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Lesson 3 - Indices and Surds

The document provides information about indices, surds, and rationalizing fractions with surd denominators. It defines indices as numbers raised to a power, and lists several rules for operations with indices such as multiplication, division, and positive/negative powers. Surds are defined as numbers left in square root or cube root form. Rules are given for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing surds. Rationalizing the denominator is described as multiplying the top and bottom of a fraction with a surd denominator by the same surd, to obtain an equivalent fraction with a rational denominator. Some examples of each concept are worked out.

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Ammar Rizwan
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330 views6 pages

Lesson 3 - Indices and Surds

The document provides information about indices, surds, and rationalizing fractions with surd denominators. It defines indices as numbers raised to a power, and lists several rules for operations with indices such as multiplication, division, and positive/negative powers. Surds are defined as numbers left in square root or cube root form. Rules are given for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing surds. Rationalizing the denominator is described as multiplying the top and bottom of a fraction with a surd denominator by the same surd, to obtain an equivalent fraction with a rational denominator. Some examples of each concept are worked out.

Uploaded by

Ammar Rizwan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LESSON 3 - INDICES AND SURDS

MAIN LECTURE:-

1. Indices

An index number is a number which is raised to a power. The power, also known as the
index, tells you how many times you have to multiply the number by itself. For example,
25 means that you have to multiply 2 by itself five times = 2×2×2×2×2 = 32.

There are a number of important rules of index numbers:



ya × yb = ya+b

Examples

24 × 28 = 212

54 × 5-2 = 52

ya ÷ yb= ya-b

Examples

39 ÷ 34 = 35

72 ÷ 75 = 7-3

y -b = 1/yb

Examples

2-3 = 1/23 = 1/8

3-1 = 1/3

ym/n = (n√y)m

Examples

161/2 = √16 = 4

82/3 = (3√8)2 = 4

(yn)m = ynm

Example

25 + 84

= 25 + (23)4

= 25 + 212

 y0 = 1

Example

50 = 1

2. Surds

Surds are numbers left in "square root form" (or "cube root form" etc).

(i) Addition and subtraction of surds

a√b + c√b = (a + c)√b


a√b - c√b = (a - c)√b

Examples

4√7 - 2√7 = 2√7.


5√2 + 8√2 = 13√2

NB1: 5√2 + 3√3 cannot be manipulated because the surds are different (one is √2 and one
is √3).
NB2: √a + √b is not the same as √(a + b) .

(ii) Multiplication and Division

√ab = √a × √b
√(a/b) = √a/√b
Examples

√5 × √15 = √75
= √25 × √3
= 5√3.

(1 + √3) × (2 - √8)            [The brackets are expanded as usual]


= 2 - √8 + 2√3 - √24
= 2 - 2√2 + 2√3 - 2√6

3. Rationalising the denominator

It is untidy to have a fraction which has a surd denominator. This can be "tidied up" by
multiplying the top and bottom of the fraction by a surd. This is known as rationalising
the denominator, since surds are irrational numbers and so you are changing the
denominator from an irrational to a rational number.

Example

Rationalise the denominator of:


a) 1
  √2 .

b) 1 + 2
 1 - √2

a) Multiply the top and bottom of the fraction by √2. The top will become √2 and the
bottom will become 2 (√2 times √2 = 2).

b) In situations like this, look at the bottom of the fraction (the denominator) and change
the sign (in this case change the minus into plus). Doing this forms the conjugate of the
denominator. Now multiply the top and bottom of the fraction by this.

Therefore:
1 + 2  =   (1 + 2)(1 + √2)  =  1 + √2 + 2 + 2√2  =  3 + 3√2
1 - √2       (1 - √2)(1 + √2)      1 + √2 - √2 - 2         - 1

= -3(1 + √2)
QUESTIONS/ANSWER SESSION :-

Q1.
 
(17)3.5 x (17)? = 178
A.2.29 B.2.75
C.4.25 D.4.5

Answer: Option D

Explanation:

Let (17)3.5 x (17)x = 178.

Then, (17)3.5 + x = 178.

3.5 + x = 8

x = (8 - 3.5)

x = 4.5

Q2.

Given that 100.48 = x, 100.70 = y and xz = y2, then the value of z is close to:
A.1.45 B.1.88
C.2.9 D.3.7

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

xz = y2       10(0.48z) = 10(2 x 0.70) = 101.40

0.48z = 1.40

=> z = 2.9 (approx)


Q3.

If 3(x - y) = 27 and 3(x + y) = 243, then x is equal to:


A.0 B.2
C.4 D.6

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

3x - y = 27 = 33       x - y = 3 ....(i)

3x + y = 243 = 35       x + y = 5 ....(ii)

On solving (i) and (ii), we get x = 4.

Q4. Rationalize

Ans:

Q5. Rationalize
Ans:

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