4 Laws of Indices, Exponential and

Logarithmic Functions

Quick Check
A Laws of Indices
1. Definition of Indices
When a is a real number and n is a positive integer, an = a × a × a × a × … × a.
n
a is called the base and n is called the index or exponent.

2. Laws of Indices
For any real numbers a and b, and positive integers m, n and k,

Laws of Indices Examples

a. am × an = am + n 1 25 × 23 = 25 + 3 = 28
2 a2 × a9 = a2 + 9 = a11

am 1 107 ÷ 104 = 107 – 4 = 103

b. a ÷ a = n = am – n,
m n
a a15
where a ≠ 0 2 = a15 – 8 = a7
a8
c. (am)n = am × n 1 (23)4 = 23 × 4 = 212
2 (a3)2 = a3 × 2 = a6
d. (ambn)k = am × kbn × k 1 (35 × 42)7 = 35 × 7 × 42 × 7 = 335 × 414
2 (a3b4)2 = a3 × 2b4 × 2 = a6b8

( ) ( )
6
k
am = a
m×k
25 25 × 6 2 30
e. , 1 = =
bn bn × k 34 34 × 6 324

( )
where b ≠ 0 5
a 2 × 5 a10
a2 = =
2
b3 b 3 × 5 b15
1 1
f. a–m = and 1 2–3 =
am 23

( ) ( ) 1
–k k
am bn b nk 2 a–2 = 2
= = , a
bn am a mk

( ) ( )
–4 4
where a ≠ 0 a2 5
b5 × 4 b 20
3 = b2 = =
b5 a a 2 × 4 a8

g. a0 = 1, where a ≠ 0 50 = 1

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Mathematics Exam Elite – Multiple-choice Questions (Compulsory Part)

Pay special attention to the following:

i. am + an or am – an CANNOT be simplified because they are unlike terms!
e.g. x3 + x5 is NOT equal to x8 or x15! x3 + x5 cannot be further simplified.
ii. am × bn CANNOT be simplified because the bases are not the same!
e.g. 2x × 3y is NOT equal to 6xy or 6x + y! The bases cannot be multiplied.
iii. am × bn CAN be simplified IF
(1) m and n are the same OR m and n has a common factor!
e.g. 1 2n × 5n = (2 × 5)n = 10n
2 a6 × b8 = a3 × 2 × b4 × 2 = (a3 × b4)2
(2) a can be expressed in terms of bz OR b can be expressed in terms of a z, where z is any
integer.
e.g. 2m × 8n = 2m × (23)n = 2m × 23n = 2m + 3n
e.g. 3m × 9–n = 3m × (32)–n = 3m × 3–2n = 3m – 2n
iv. (a + b)m ≠ am + bm!
Index CANNOT be distributed into the bracket IF there is an addition (or subtraction) inside
the bracket.
e.g. (3 + a)3 ≠ 33 + a3. The method of expanding the polynomial has to be used.

NF 3. Rational and Real Indices

The laws of indices above (a to f) are valid for real number indices (i.e. m and n can be real
numbers). However, the bases (a and b) MUST BE positive numbers.
a 10
× a2 2 + 10 – π
e.g. =a (Note that 10 and π are real numbers.)
aπ
If the index is a rational number, it can be written as the following:
p
q q
a q = a p = ( a ) p , where p is any integer and q MUST BE a positive integer.
3
e.g. a 5 = 5 a3

4. Scientific Notation
Any real number x can be expressed in the form of x = a × 10b, where 1  a < 10 or –10 < a  –1,
and b is an integer.
e.g. 5 487 163 903 = 5.487 163 903 × 109
–0.000 092 748 364 = –9.274 836 4 × 10–5

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 4 Laws of Indices, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

NF B Numeral Systems
1. Introduction to different numeral systems
Denary, Binary and Hexadecimal systems are the three most commonly used numeral systems.

Numeral System Base Digits used

Binary 2 0, 1
Denary 10 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F
Hexadecimal 16
where A = 10, B = 11, C = 12, D = 13, E = 14, F = 15

2. Conversion between different numeral systems

a. Binary numbers to denary numbers
Reminder
The place values of the digits in binary system,
from right to left, are: 20, 21, 22, 23, … 1. Place values must start
counting from the right.
e.g. 1010100101002
= 1 × 211 + 1 × 29 + 1 × 27 + 1 × 24 + 1 × 22 2. The index of the first place
value of the digits must be 0.
= 2 048 + 512 + 128 + 16 + 4
= 2 70810
b. Hexadecimal numbers to denary numbers
The place values of the digits in hexadecimal system,
from right to left, are: 160, 161, 162, 163, …
e.g. 3A9D16
= 3 × 163 + 10 × 162 + 9 × 161 + 13 × 160
= 12 288 + 2 560 + 144 + 13
= 15 00510
c. Denary numbers to binary numbers
Divide the denary number successively by 2 using short division until a 1 is got at the bottom.
Then write down the last quotient and the remainders in reverse order. The bottom digit is the
first digit on the left.
e.g. 7910 2 79 remainders
2 39 1 Reminder
= 10011112
2 19 1 When the number is odd,
2 9 1 the remainder is 1
2 4 1 When the number is even,
2 2 0 the remainder is 0.
1 0
start writing from the bottom.

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Mathematics Exam Elite – Multiple-choice Questions (Compulsory Part)

d. Denary numbers to hexadecimal numbers

Divide the denary number successively by 16 using short division until a number smaller
than 16 is obtained. Then write down the last quotient and the remainders from the bottom to
the top.
e.g. 516310 16 5 163
= 142B16 16 322 11(B)
16 20 2

1 4

NF C Exponential Functions and their Graphs

1. Introduction and Properties of Exponential Function
f (x) = a x is called the exponential function with base a, where a > 0 and a ≠ 1.
The domain of f (x) = a x is the set of all real numbers.
The range of f (x) = a x is all positive real numbers.
If ax = a y, then x = y.
2. Graph of Exponential Function f (x) = ax

a>1 0<a<1

a increases a increases
y y = 4x from 1 from 0 1
y = ( – )x
4 y = 2x 4 y

3 4
1
y = ( – )x 3
2 2

1 2

x 1
–3 –2 –1 O 1 2 3
x
–3 –2 –1 O 1 2 3

•• The value of y increases as x increases. •• The value of y decreases as x increases.

•• It passes through the point (0, 1). •• It passes through the point (0, 1).
•• The value of y approaches 0 as the value •• The value of y approaches 0 as the value
of x decreases. of x increases.
•• As the value of a increases from 1, •• As the value of a increases from 0,
the graph bends towards the y-axis the graph bends away from the y-axis
for x > 0. for x < 0.
•• As the value of a increases, the graph •• As the value of a increases, the graph
becomes steeper. becomes flatter.

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 4 Laws of Indices, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

NF D Logarithmic Functions and their Graphs

1. Definition of Logarithms
For an exponential function y = ax, x = loga y.
e.g. Since 81 = 34, log3 81 = 4.
For the function f (x) = loga x, the domain of the function is all positive real numbers; the range of
the function is all real numbers.
The logarithm of base 10 is called common logarithm. In using common logarithm, log10 x can be
simply written as log x.
e.g. log10100 = log 100 = 2
Logarithmic function is the inverse of exponential function.

2. Properties of Logarithms
For a > 0, a ≠ 1, M > 0 and N > 0,
Properties of Logarithms Examples

a. loga M + loga N = loga MN log 3 + log 2 = log (3 × 2) = log 6

b. loga M – loga N = loga ( MN ) log 243 – log 162 = log (162

243
) = log 23
c. loga M k = k loga M, where k is a real number. log 75 = 5 × log 7

d. loga 1 = 0 log2 1 = log3 1 = log 1 = 0

e. loga a = 1 log2 2 = log5 5 = log 10 = 1

log N log 8
f. logM N = log a M , where M > and M ≠ 1. log5 8 = log 5
a

Smart Use of Calculator

Evaluating logarithmic expressions

When the log key is pressed, it will automatically add an open bracket for the expression. Please
BE VERY CAREFUL on this! Be sure to close the bracket whenever it is necessary. Otherwise, the
answer will be wrong.
In evaluating log
8
3 ()
, enter the following:
log 8 a b c 3 EXE or log 8 ÷ 3 EXE and it will display 0.425 968 732.

In this case, the close bracket is not required since there is nothing behind the expression.
In evaluating log 5 8, enter the following:
log 8 ) ÷ log 5 EXE and it will display 1.292 029 674.

Make sure you close the bracket before entering the denominator ‘log 5’.
However, if you forget to close the bracket before entering log 5, it will give you the wrong answer.
log 8 ÷ log 5 EXE and it will display 1.058 631 448 because it actually evaluates log
It treats the ‘8’ and ‘log 5’ as one fraction inside the bracket.
( )8 .
log 5

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Mathematics Exam Elite – Multiple-choice Questions (Compulsory Part)

Pay special attention to the following:

i. log (M ± N) ≠ log M ± log N
e.g. log (x + 3) ≠ log x + log 3

ii For any positive integers k,

log M k ≠ (log M)k
log M k = k log M, while (log M)k = (log M)(log M)(log M)…(log M)
k
e.g. log 100k = k log 100 = 2k ;
(log 100)k = 2k

3. Graph of Logarithmic function f (x) = log a x

a>1 0<a<1

y y
2
a increases
y = log5x from 1 1
1
y = log10x
x
x O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
–1 O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
y = log0.1x
–1 –1

y = log0.5x
–2 a increases
from 0

•• The value of y increases as x increases. •• The value of y decreases as x increases.

•• It passes through the point (1, 0). •• It passes through the point (1, 0).
•• As the value of x approaches 0, the graph •• As the value of x approaches 0, the graph
gets closer and closer to the y-axis. gets closer and closer to the y-axis.
•• As the value of a increases, the graph •• As the value of a increases, the graph
bends towards the x-axis for x > 1. bends away from the x-axis for x > 1.
•• As the value of a increases, the graph •• As the value of a increases, the graph
becomes flatter. becomes steeper.