Indices, Logarithms and

Surds
Compiled by: Nyasha P. Tarakino (Trockers)

+263772978155/+263717267175

[email protected]

01 DECEMBER 2019

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

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 SYLLABUS (6042) REQUIREMENTS

 State the laws of indices

 Use laws of indices to solve problems
 Solve equations using laws of logarithms
 Simplify surds

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 INDICES

An index is a power (in plural form they are called indices/powers)

Rules of indices

[1] (when multiplying indices of the same base add them)

[2] (when dividing indices of the same base subtract them)

[3] (when raising an index against another index, multiply them)

[4] (any number or letter raised to the power zero is 1)

[5] (raising a number to a negative index, take the reciprocal but with a

positive index)

[6] (raising a number to a fractional index, take the nth root of that

number where the nth value is the denominator)

[7] or (refer to rules and i.e.

DISGUISED QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

WORKED PROBLEMS

Question 1

Find the value of

Suggested Solution

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Let be

But

Question 2

Solve the equation .

Suggested Solution

Let

But

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Question 3

Solve the equation

Suggested Solution

Let

But

Question 4

Solve the equation

Suggested Solution

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Question 5

Solve the equation

Suggested Solution

Question 6

Solve the equation

Suggested Solution

Let

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But

Question 7

Solve the equation

Suggested Solution

Let

But

Question 8

Solve the equations .

Suggested Solution

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Letting yields

Solving for yields

Now equating

PAST EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

1. Solve the following equations:

a)

b)

c)

d)

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 e)

f)
g)

h)

i)

j)

k)

l)

m) [Hint: Use ]

n)

o) ,

p) ,

2. (i) Given that , show that the equation may be written as

(ii) Hence, or otherwise solve the equation .

3. Show that

4. Given that and , obtain two linear equations in and .

Hence determine the values of and .

5. Show that

6. Solve the pair of simultaneous equations:

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 7. Given that , show that
a) i) ii) ,
b) Using the results from (a) and (b) write the equation
as an equation in ,
c) By first solving the equation in , find the values of which satisfy the given
equation in .

8. Show that .
Hence, solve the simultaneous equations:

9. Given that
(i) Solve the equation for .
(ii) Show that .

10. Solve the following simultaneous equations:

LOGARITHMS

Definition: The logarithm of any number is the power in which we raise the base to get the
required number i.e.

Rules of logarithms

[1]

[2]

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[3]

Natural Logarithms

Definition: These are logarithms which are in base .

Rules of Natural logarithms

[1]

[2]
[3]

Exponential Functions

Definition: An exponential function is an inverse function of the natural logarithm

Rules

The rules are the same as those for indices.

[1] (when multiplying indices of the same base add them)

[2] (when dividing indices of the same base subtract them)

[3] (when raising an index against another index, multiply them)

NOTE

 There are no logarithms for negative numbers

 Logarithms of numbers between and are negative

This is not part of the topic but is worth mentioning here:

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 WORKED PROBLEMS

Question 1
November 2004 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve

Suggested solution

Question 2
November 2006 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the following pair of simultaneous equations

Suggested solution
(i)
(ii)

From (i)

(iii)
From (ii)

(iv)

Substituing (iii) into (iv)

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 (iv)

The solutions are and . But since we are dealing with Logarithms, the correct
coordinates are . [NB: is not applicable]

Question 3
November 2016 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve exactly

Suggested solution

Let

But

Question 4
Solve

Suggested solution

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Question 5
Solve

Suggested solution

Question 6
Solve giving your answer exactly in terms of logarithms
Suggested solution

Taking natural logs to both sides

Question 7

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Solve the following equation:

Suggested solution

Let

But

Question 7
Show that can be written as a quadratic equation in .

Hence solve the equation.

Suggested solution

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 (Shown)

Solving for using the quadratic formula or completion of square

(Since there are no Logarithms for negative numbers)

PAST EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

ZIMSEC

November 2018 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the following simultaneous equations:

June 2018 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the equations: giving the answer in exact form.

November 2016 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the following simultaneous equations:

(a)

(b)

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November 2014 ZIMSEC Paper 1

It is given that , show that .

June 2012 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the following equation:

November 2010 ZIMSEC Paper 1

If and are positive real numbers, and express in terms of .

June 2008 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Show that .

June 2007 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Find the exact value of the solution to the equation

November 2007 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Show that .

November 2006 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the following simultaneous equations:

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June 2006 ZIMSEC Paper 1

a) Express in the form where

are constants to be found.

b) Solve the equation , giving your solution correct to significant figures.

November 2004 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Solve the following equations

November 2000 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Given that , find the value of correct to significant figures.

November 1998 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Express in terms of , where .

Solve the equation , expressing your answers for in terms of
logarithms where appropriate.

CAMBRIDGE QUESTIONS

Question 1
a) Given that show that
b) Hence, or otherwise, solve

Question 2
Given that and are positive constants, solve the simultaneous equations:

Give your answer as exact numbers.

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Question 3
a) Write down the value of
b) Express as a single log to base

Question 4
Solve:

a)

b)

c) log ,

d) .

Question 5
Find the exact solutions to the equations:

a) .
b) .
c)

Question 6
Given that ,

(a) Show that .

(b) Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation

Question 7
Given that and , express the following in terms of and .
(i)

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(ii)

Question 8
Given that show that , where the values of the constants a and
b are to be found.

Question 9
Show that the equation may be written as a quadratic equation in
.

Hence find the values of , satisfying the equation .

Question 10

Given that and , find in terms of and ,

(i)

(ii) .

It is given that and that

(iii) Form simultaneous equations in and .

(iv) Show that and find the value of .
Hence, or otherwise,
(v) calculate , to , the value of and the value of .

Question 11
Solve exactly for x the following equation

Question 12
Without using calculator, show that

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Question 13
Solve the simultaneous equations:

giving your answer in logarithmic form.

Question 14
Without using calculator, show that

where is a positive constant.

Question 15
Solve .

Question 16

a) Simplify

b) Find the value of for which .

Question 17

Use logarithms to solve the equation , giving your answer to two significant
figures.

Question 18
Solve the equation giving your answer correct to

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 SURDS

Definition: A surd is a nasty root i.e. a root which is irrational and cannot be evaluated

e.g. .

Notes

If we try to write them as decimals they would go on forever e.g.

A number which cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers is called an

irrational number.

Rules

The following rules are used to evaluate surds:

[1]
[2]

[3]

WORKED PROBLEMS

Question 1
Write as the simplest possible surd.

Suggested solution

Question 2

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Express as a number under one square root.

Suggested solution

Question 3
Simplify

Suggested solution

Question 4
Simplify

Suggested solution

Alternatively

N.B. Now using

Question 5

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If , express in the form where and are constants and real
numbers.

Suggested solution

RATIONALISATION
Definition: Getting rid of all surds off the bottom of the fraction

Method
Multiply the top and bottom of the fraction by the expression on the bottom

but with changed sign (conjugate)

For example the conjugate of is .

Multiplying a complex by its conjugate produces the difference from two squares i.e.

WORKED EXAMPLES

Question 1

Rationalise the denominator of

Suggested Solution

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Question 2

November 2002 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Express in the form where are integers.

Suggested Solution

Question 3

November 2014 ZIMSEC Paper 1

Express in the form where are real numbers.

Suggested Solution

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 PRACTICE PROBLEMS

Question 1

Express in the form , where are real numbers.

Question 2

Express in the form .

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Question 3

B C
X

The area of triangle is . The length of perpendicular height is

and is the midpoint of . Find the length of the , expressing your answer in the
form , where and are integers

Question 4

Rationalise the denominators of the following surds:

Question 5

If , then express in the form ,

A r
h B

The diagrams above show a trapezium A; with parallel sides cm, cm and its

perpendicular distance is cm and a circle B with radius cm. Given that cm

and also that the area of circle B area of trapezium A, express in the form .

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Question 6

B C

The area of triangle ABC is . The length of the base BC is Find the
perpendicular height from , expressing your answer in the form , where
a, b, c and b are integers

Question 7

a) Simplify

b) Express as a simple surd.

c) Express in the form where is an integer.

Question 8

Rationalise the denominators of the following surds:

Question 9

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If , then express in the form .

ASANTE SANA

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*******THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF EVERY TUNNEL *******

CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS ON THE FORM

OF THE PRESENTATION, INCLUDING ANY
OMISSIONS OR ERRORS, ARE WELCOME.

***ENJOY***

Nyasha P. Tarakino (Trockers)

+263772978155/+263717267175

[email protected]

Tarakino N.P. (Trockers) ~ 0772978155/ 0717267175

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