Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

I Revision
1. We have learnt the following Laws of Indices

am × an = am n
Laws of indices with same bases
am ÷ an = am n

am  bm = (a b)m
Laws of indices with same powers
am m
=
bm

(am)n = am n Law involving powers of powers

2. Skill Practice
Simplify the following. Recall Math Concept
a) (3r2)4

b) (-3s4t3)2

t 20  t 11
c)
t5

d)
(20h j )(3hj )
5 2 3

5h 4 j 2

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

II Comparing Laws of Indices and Factorisation

Law of Indices Factorisation

(Taking out common factor)

am × an = __________ ax + bx = ___________
Case 1: Case 2:

a3 × a3 = ___________ a3 + a3 = ____________
= ___________ = ____________

Important Learning Points!!!

(i) Laws of Indices do not apply to ______________________________________ of
exponential terms.

(ii Only ________________________________________ can be added or subtracted.

)

1. Simplify

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

a) 3x5 + x5 b) 7a-1 ˗ 3a-1 c) m3 ˗ 2m3

d) 86  86 e) 7-10 ÷ 7-10 f) b3  b-4

1 3 1 3 1
3
1 2
g) c + c h) p + p 4
4
i) q  q 3
5
3 3 4

2. True or False.

Circle True or False for the following. Give the correct answer if it is False
a) 3x2y − x2y = 2x2y

TRUE / FALSE

b) a + a = a2

TRUE / FALSE

c) b5  b5 = 2b5

TRUE / FALSE

d) p10 ÷ p4 = p6

TRUE / FALSE

e) x3 + x3 = 2x6

TRUE / FALSE

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

f) q12  q12 = q24

TRUE / FALSE

3. Spot the Mistakes.

Spot the Mistakes Suggested Corrections (if any)

a) ay + a2y = 2a3y

b) p3  p2 = 2p5

c) m y  m 2 y = m 2 y
2

1 1 1 3
+
d) z + 3z = z
4 4 4 4

= z1

III Zero Index

1. Using your calculator, evaluate

a) 20 =

b) (˗ 1)0 =
0
3
c)   =
4
d) (23  34)0 =

e) (104892)0 =

f) (0.00718)0 =

Hence, if the index is zero,

a0 =
2. Simplify

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

a) (5˗3)0 b) (ab)0 c) (7r3)0

d) 𝑥 0 × 𝑥 2 e) 𝑥 0 + 𝑥 2 f) 𝑥 0 × 𝑥 0

g) 𝑥 0 + 𝑥 0 h) 𝑥 0 ÷ 𝑥 0 i) 𝑥 0 − 𝑥 0

𝑥0 k) 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 0 𝑥2
j) l)
𝑥2 𝑥0

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

3. True or False. Answer the following without the use of a calculator.

Circle True or False for the following. Give the correct answer if it is False
a) 𝑥 0 = 0

TRUE / FALSE

b) 3𝑥 0 = 1

TRUE / FALSE

c) 5 = 50

TRUE / FALSE

d) 70 = 110

TRUE / FALSE

e) 1 = 100

TRUE / FALSE

4. Write down five equivalent indices for 1.

a) _______________

b) _______________

c) _______________

d) _______________

e) _______________

Important Learning Point!!!

You must remember that “1” can always be written as an exponential term.

Base: ____________________________________

Index: ____________________________________

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

IV Negative Index
1. Using your calculator, evaluate
a) 23 = b) 2-3 =

c) 33 = d) 3-3 =

1 1
e) = f) =
52 5− 2

Hence, if the index is negative,

1
a-n = and −n
=
a

2. Simplify (where applicable) and express the following as positive index.

a) a˗5 b) 2−𝑥 c) p4 ÷ p9

d) 3−𝑥 × 3−2𝑥 e) ( m 3 )−2 5

f)
𝑥 −3

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

3. Further Examples: Expressing Negative Index as Positive Index

a) ab −n = b) a − n b = c) ( ab )−n =

−n −n
a
=
a
= a
d) e) f)   =
b b −n b

4. True or False

Circle True or False for the following Give the correct answer if it is False
1
a) = ab n
(ab ) −n

TRUE / FALSE

b) (3q )−2 =
1
3q − 2

TRUE / FALSE

( )
c) 3 x 2
−3
=
1
3x 6

TRUE / FALSE

8 y −4 4
d) 6
= 10
2y y

TRUE / FALSE
−1
 a −n  bn
e)  − n  =
b  an

TRUE / FALSE

f) (3x )−2  (2 x )−3 = 6

x5

TRUE / FALSE

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

5. Simplify and express the following as positive index Recall Math Concept
a) a2b3 × a-3b-5

16a −4
b)
8a 5

c) (xy-2)2

d) (s-2t3)-1

e) (5x-4y8) ÷ (15x-3y6)

−2
 5− 3 
f)  2 
h 

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

V Fractional Index
1. Using Prime Factorisation, express 32 as a product of prime factors, leaving your answers in
index notation.

2. Express the following in Index Notation.

BASES
Integers Prime Factors Others (if any)
2
4
8
16
32
64

3
9
27
81

5
25
125
625

6
36
216

7
49
343

10
100
1000

11
121

12
144

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

1. Express in Index Notation Recall Math concept

a) √9 = 9n √9 = 3

n 9 = 32
= ( ) (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚×𝑛

By comparing powers of same bases.

n=

In conclusion

√9 = 9
3
3 n √8 = 2
b) √8 = 8
n 8 = 23
= ( ) (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚×𝑛

By comparing powers of same bases.

n=

In conclusion

3
√8 = 8

Hence in general,
𝑛
√𝑎 = a , where n ≠ 0

The power of a is a ____________________ index for the nth root of a.

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

2. a) Fill in the box

i) p =p

x
ii) 11 = 11

3
iii) 125 = 125

6
iv) 64 = 64

b) Find the equivalent exponential terms Recall Math Concept

3
i) 125 = 5

6
ii) 64 = 2

= 4

= 8

3. Simplify and express the following as positive index (where applicable).

4 3 3 −6
a) √5 × √5 b) √7 ÷ 7 c) ( √𝑥)

Recall Math Concept: Recall Math Concepts: Recall Math Concepts:

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

4. Further Examples: Expressing as Fractional Index

1
Extend the application of fractional index n
a = an

1 n
am = 1 1
b) n = c) d) n
= m
a am a n

Recall Math Concept: Recall Math Concept:

iii) n
ab = iv) n
ab= g) a n b =

Recall Math Concept:

a n
a a
h) n = i) = j) n
=
b b b

Recall Math Concept:

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

5. Simplify and express the following as positive index Recall Math Concept
(where applicable)
6
a) a9

1
( b)
b) 5

c) 3
x −2

1
(a)
d) 6
3 2

1
e) 25 
5y

a3  3 a
f)
a5

𝑥 0
g) ( √7)

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

VI Solving equations involving indices

1. Comparing Indices

Example

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) Solve 2x = 32

b) Solve 3x = 1

c) 1
Solve 2x = 2

d) Solve 10 x = 100

3
e) Solve 2x = √2

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

A. Level 1

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) 1
Solve 5x = 5

b) Solve 10 x = 10000

c) Solve 343 = 7x

4
d) Solve 3x = √3

e) Solve 11x = 1

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

B Level 2

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) Solve 5 2  51  5 0 = 5 k

b) Solve 7 0  7 4  7 2 = 7 x

c) Solve (7 3 ) 4 = 7 k

d) 1
Solve (7 ) 0 = 7 x
2

e) 38
Solve −12 = 3 x
3

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

C Level 3

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) Solve 7 x  7 2 = 7 5

b) Solve 3 x −1 = 27

c) Solve 3b  34 = 27

d) Solve 2 3 x +1 = 16

e) Solve 59−x  5 = 625

f) Solve 2 x−1 = 25  2 x

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

D Level 4

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) 1
Solve 9 5  27 = 3 x
3

b) Solve 2 p  5 = 40

c) Solve 2 34  16 = 2 k

d) Solve 3−2  3k = 1

e) Solve 323  27 = 3k

f) 1
Solve 16 x  16 =
64

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

E Level 5

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) Solve 4 x+1 = 25

b) Solve 4 x −3  83 x −1 = 4

c) Solve 315  9 2 = 3 x

d) Solve 25 x −1 = 1252

e)  1 
y

Solve 81 y    = 9
 27 

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Sec 3 Express – Indices Part 2

2. Comparing Bases

Questions Recall Math Concept

a) Solve 32 = a 2  a 3

b) 6 33
Solve a 11 =
311  3 22

a = (100) 6
c) 3
1
Solve

d)
= (243)
1 2
Solve 5
x

e) Solve x 6 + 4 x 6 = 320

Note: There are two solutions to this question

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