Indices and Logarithms

1. Working with indices and the Laws of Indices

1
• √𝑎 = 𝑎 2
• A negative number raised to an even power is always positive e.g. (−5)10 = 510
• A negative number raised to an odd power is always negative e.g. (−3)5 = −35

These laws
are listed in
the maths
tables

Example

𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 20(38 ) + 7(38 )𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 3

20(38 ) + 7(38 ) = 27(38 ) = 33 . 38 = 311
Please note: There are little to no exam questions specifically based around working with
indices or the laws of indices. It is more that you require a fluency in these techniques in
case indices come up as part of an algebra/functions question.
Remember: Square and cube numbers and their roots. Helpful to recognise when they come
up.

Square 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 121 144 169 196 225

numbers
Cube 1 8 27 64 125 216 343 - - 1000 - - - - -
numbers
Roots 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Powers of 2

2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 1024

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 210

Powers of 3

3 9 27 81 243
31 32 33 34 35

It is invaluable to have a high level of comfort with numbers in index form.

 2. Equations with x as an index
There are several types of equations where x may be found as an index.
Type A: When the given base numbers can be expressed in terms of the same base number.
Example: Find the value of x. By observation;
12 25, 5, and 125
𝑥
√125 can all be
25 = ( 3 )
√5 expressed as 5𝑦
Also changing roots to 1 12
numerical powers (53 )2
(52 )𝑥 = ( 1 )
53
3 12
52 (𝑎𝑝 )𝑞 = 𝑎𝑝𝑞
The aim in this type of question is 52𝑥 = ( 1 )
to simplify both sides of the 53
equation using the laws of indices
7 12
until you reach this point. Then use 52𝑥 = (56 ) 𝑎𝑝
= 𝑎𝑝−𝑞
the fact 𝑎𝑞

𝑖𝑓 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 𝑦 52𝑥 = 514

to create an equation to solve for x. ∴ 2𝑥 = 14

𝑥=7

Type B: When the equation can be transformed into a quadratic

Example: Solve for x
42𝑥+1 = 42𝑥 . 41 = 4(42𝑥 ) = 4(4𝑥 )2 42𝑥+1 + 63(4𝑥 ) − 16 = 0
Using the laws of indices to 4(4𝑥 )2 + 63(4𝑥 ) − 16 = 0
deconstruct the index to isolate 4𝑥
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑦 = 4𝑥
4𝑦 2 + 63𝑦 − 16 = 0
(4𝑦 − 1)(𝑦 + 16) = 0
4𝑦 − 1 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 + 16 = 0
1 As 4 is positive 4𝑥 can never result
𝑦 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = −16 in a negative answer and so this
4
possible answer is cancelled
1
4𝑥 = 𝑜𝑟 4𝑥 = −16
4
4𝑥 = 4−1
∴ 𝑥 = −1
 Type C: When the given base numbers cannot be expressed in terms of the same base
number (This requires the use of logs – covered in more detail later in the notes)
Example: Solve for x giving your answers correct to two significant figures.

32𝑥+1 − 13(3𝑥 ) + 14 = 0
3(3𝑥 )2 − 13(3𝑥 ) + 14 = 0
3𝑦 2 − 13𝑦 + 14 = 0
(3𝑦 − 7)(𝑦 − 2) = 0
3𝑦 − 7 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 − 2 = 0 It is at this point we know that we
We use log 3 on both sides need to use logs to finish as the given
because the base in this 7
𝑦= 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 2 base numbers cannot be expressed in
question is 3. In any given 3 terms of the same base number
question, use the most 7
appropriate base for the log. 3𝑥 = 𝑜𝑟 3𝑥 = 2
3
7
log 3 3𝑥 = log 3 𝑜𝑟 log 3 3𝑥 = log 3 2
3
𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 log 𝑎 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑥 7
𝑥 = log 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = log 3 2
3
𝑥 = 0.77 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 0.63

3. Surds

√𝑎√𝑏 = √𝑎𝑏 We often use these

laws in reverse
√𝑎 𝑎
=√
√𝑏 𝑏
Reducing/Simplifying surds

• Factorise the given number into a square number and the other factor
• Simplify the square number
• Double check that the remaining factor cannot be broken down further
• Combine like surds if applicable

Example: Simplify √50 + √8 + √32

= √25√2 + √4√2 + √16√2

= 5√2 + 2√2 + 4√2

= 11√2

Working with surds

(√5 + 2√2)(√5 − √2) = 5 − √10 + 2√10 − 4 = 1 + √10

 Rationalising the denominator
Examples: Simplify the following
5
(𝑖)
√5
For the first two, we need
to multiply above and 5 √5 5√5
× = = √5
below by the surd of the √5 √5 5
denominator
4
(𝑖𝑖)
√45
This denominator can be
4 4 4 simplified so we do that first
= =
√45 √9√5 3√5
4 √5 4√5
× =
3√5 √5 15
To simplify this type, we
must multiply above and 2 − √11 The conjugate of 𝑎 + 𝑏
(𝑖𝑖𝑖)
below by the conjugate of 3√11 + 5 is 𝑎 − 𝑏
the denominator
2 − √11 3√11 − 5
×
3√11 + 5 3√11 − 5
(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2
6√11 − 10 − 33 + 5√11
= 2 The Difference of two squares
(3√11) − (5)2
Always double check to see if
there is a common factor that 11√11 − 43
would allow you to simplify the =
99 − 25
entire fraction
11√11 − 43
=
74
4. Working with logs and the Laws of logs

log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1

All other logs will have log10 100 = 2 ↔ 102 = 100

specified bases log 5 = log10 5
Example: Solve for x log 3 (2𝑥 + 5) − log 3 (𝑥 − 8) = 1
2𝑥 + 5
log 3 =1
𝑥−8
2𝑥 + 5
∴ 31 =
𝑥−8
3(𝑥 − 8) = 2𝑥 + 5
3𝑥 − 24 = 2𝑥 + 5
3𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 5 + 24
𝑥 = 29
Examples:

8
(𝑎) log 𝑎
3
= log 𝑎 8 − log 𝑎 3
= log 𝑎 23 − 𝑞
= 3 log 𝑎 2 − 𝑞
= 3𝑝 − 𝑞
9𝑎2
(𝑏) log 𝑎
16
= log 𝑎 9𝑎2 − log 𝑎 16
= log 𝑎 9 + log 𝑎 𝑎2 − log 𝑎 16
= log 𝑎 32 + 2 − log 𝑎 24
= 2log 𝑎 3 + 2 − 4 log 𝑎 2
= 2𝑞 + 2 − 4𝑝

1
= log 𝑐 𝑥 2 + log 𝑐 𝑐 + log 𝑐 𝑥
1
= log 𝑐 𝑥 + 1 + 𝑝
2
1
= 𝑝+1+𝑝
2
3
= 𝑝+1
2
 5. 𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑛
1 1 1 1
𝑒 =1+ + + + + ⋯ ≈ 2.71828
1! 2! 3! 4!
𝑙𝑛 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒

𝑙𝑛𝑒 = 1 𝑙𝑛𝑒 2 = 2 𝑙𝑛𝑒 3 = 3 𝑙𝑛𝑒 4 = 4 𝑙𝑛𝑒 5 = 5 𝑙𝑛𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑥

𝑒 𝑙𝑛1 = 1 𝑒 𝑙𝑛2 = 2 𝑒 𝑙𝑛3 = 3 𝑒 𝑙𝑛4 = 4 𝑒 𝑙𝑛5 = 5 𝑒 𝑙𝑛𝑥 = 𝑥

Examples: Solve for x in each of the following

(𝑎) 𝑒 2𝑥 = 3
𝑙𝑛𝑒 2𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛3
2𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛3
𝑙𝑛3
𝑥=
2
(𝑏) 𝑙𝑛3𝑥 = 2

𝑒 𝑙𝑛3𝑥 = 𝑒 2
3𝑥 = 𝑒 2
𝑒2
𝑥=
3
(𝑐) 7𝑒 7𝑥 = 1
1
𝑒 7𝑥 =
7
1
7𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛 ( )
7
1 1
𝑥= 𝑙𝑛 ( )
7 7
1
(𝑑) 𝑙𝑛𝑥 −5 = 1 Just like we would square both
1 sides to undo a square root, you
−
𝑒 𝑙𝑛𝑥 5
= 𝑒1 can choose to put any power you
1
like on both sides of the
𝑥 −5 = 𝑒 equation. Here we use -5 as that
will result in 𝑥 1 on the left side
1 −5
− which is what we want
(𝑥 5) = 𝑒 −5

1
𝑥 = 𝑒 −5 =
𝑒5
 6. Practical problems
The initial state of the situation can be found by letting t = 0.
Example: A biologist puts 100 bacteria into a controlled environment at the start of an
experiment. Six hours later, she returns and counts 450 bacteria in the colony. Assuming
exponential growth of the form 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑏𝑡 where b is the growth constant, find a value for b,
correct to two decimal places

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 0, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 100 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 6, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑠 450

100 = 𝐴𝑒 𝑏(0) 450 = 100𝑒 𝑏(6)
100 = 𝐴𝑒 0 450 = 100𝑒 6𝑏
100 = 𝐴(1) 450
= 𝑒 6𝑏
100 = 𝐴 100
4.5 = 𝑒 6𝑏
𝑙𝑛4.5 = 𝑙𝑛𝑒 6𝑏
𝑙𝑛4.5 = 6𝑏
𝑙𝑛4.5
=𝑏
6
𝑏 = 0.25

Example: Milk for a baby, which was heated up to 45𝑜 𝐶, is left to cool. The temperature
𝑇 𝑜 𝐶 of the milk, after t minutes left cooling, is given by the rule 𝑇 = 15 + 30 × 10−0.02𝑡
(i) Verify that the initial temperature was 45𝑜 𝐶

𝑇 = 15 + 30 × 10−0.02(0) = 15 + 30 × 100 = 15 + 30 × 1 = 15 + 30 = 45𝑜 𝐶

(ii) If the milk is to be given to a baby when it has cooled to 35𝑜 𝐶, find how long it
has to be left to cool to reach this temperature.

𝑇 = 15 + 30 × 10−0.02𝑡 2
log = log 10−0.02𝑡
35 = 15 + 30 × 10−0.02𝑡 3
2
20 = 30 × 10−0.02𝑡 log = − 0.02𝑡
3
20 2
= 10−0.02𝑡 log 3
30 =𝑡
2 −0.02
= 10−0.02𝑡
3 𝑡 = 8.8 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠

(iii) Use this rule to find the room temperature, explaining your answer

The milk will eventually cool down to room 𝑇 = 15 + 30 × 10−0.02𝑡

temperature so we need to look at what As t gets larger, 10−0.02𝑡 gets closer and
happens to the temperature over time. i.e. closer to 0, which will mean 30 × 10−0.02𝑡
as t gets bigger what value does T have. will be equal to 0, so the value of 𝑇 = 15𝑜 𝐶
Example: The consumer price index (CPI) measures the cost of goods and services on a
yearly basis. Assuming that a commodity was valued at €100 in 2000, and that the CPI has
been rising exponentially at 4.5% since that year, find:
(i) The value of that commodity in €, t years after 2000

𝑉 = 100𝑒 0.045𝑡
(ii) The predicted cost of that commodity in 2010
𝑉 = 100𝑒 0.045𝑡
𝑉 = 100𝑒 0.045(10)
𝑉 = €156.83
(iii) Using the same predicted rate of increase, what was the value of that commodity
in 1995?

𝑉 = 100𝑒 0.045𝑡

𝑉 = 100𝑒 0.045(−5)

𝑉 = €79.85