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Indices: Keywords What Do I Need To Be Able To Do? @whisto - Maths

This document provides an overview of algebraic techniques involving indices or exponents. It defines key terms like base, power, exponent, and coefficient. It explains the rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing expressions with indices. Specifically, it states that the addition law for indices is am + an = am+n and the subtraction law is am - an = am-n. Examples are provided to demonstrate simplifying expressions using these index laws.

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Emrah ozkan
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88 views1 page

Indices: Keywords What Do I Need To Be Able To Do? @whisto - Maths

This document provides an overview of algebraic techniques involving indices or exponents. It defines key terms like base, power, exponent, and coefficient. It explains the rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing expressions with indices. Specifically, it states that the addition law for indices is am + an = am+n and the subtraction law is am - an = am-n. Examples are provided to demonstrate simplifying expressions using these index laws.

Uploaded by

Emrah ozkan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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algebraic techniques…

@whisto_maths Indices
What do I need to be able Keywords
to do? Base: The number that gets multiplied by a power
By the end of this unit you should be able to: Power: The exponent – or the number that tells you how many times to use the number in multiplication
• Add/ Subtract expressions with indices Exponent: The power – or the number that tells you how many times to use the number in multiplication
• Multiply expressions with indices Indices: The power or the exponent.
• Divide expressions with indices Coefficient: The number used to multiply a variable
• Know the addition law for indices Simplify: To reduce a power to its lowest term
• Know the subtraction law for indices Product: Multiply

Addition/ Subtraction with indices Multiply expressions with indices


Coefficient Power
Each square 4b x 3a 5tx9t
5x2 + 4x4 represents x2 and ≡4 x b x 3 x a ≡5 x t x 9 x t
each cube
Term Term ≡4 x 3 x b x a ≡5 x 9 x t x t
represents x4
≡ 12 ab ≡ 45 t2
Expression
Only similar terms can be simplified
If they have different powers, they
are unlike terms 2b4 x 3b2
There are often
≡2 x b x b x b x b x 3 x b x b
misconceptions with this
≡2 x 3 x b x b x b x b x b x b calculation but break down
5x2 + 2x2 ≡ 6 b6 the powers
7x2

Addition/ Subtraction laws for indices


5x2 + 6x4 – 3x2 + x4 2x2 + 7x4
35 x 32 37
= (3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3) x (3 x 3)

The base number is all the same so the terms


Divide expressions with indices can be simplified
24 2x2x2x3 2.
Addition law for indices
36 2x3x2x3 3
a m x a n = a m+n
5 a3 b2 . 5xaxaxaxbxb . . a2
15 a b6 3x5xaxbxbxbxbxbxb 3b4 35 ÷ 32 33
3x3x3x3x3 33 . 33 .
Cross cancelling factors shows cancels the expression
3x3 30 . 1 .

Subtraction law for indices


This expression cannot be divided
23 a7 y2 (cancelled down) because there are a m ÷ a n = a m-n
5 d b6 no common factors or similar terms

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