Indices & Surds – Basic Concepts

m n m+n m
a *a = a
a m-n n mn 0
= a [a ] = a
m a =1 provided a≠0
an
n mn n 1
m -n
In general , a ≠ a 1 x
{ } =a a = k means a = k x
a

Simplify 2m+2 * 6m-2 * 102m * 15m-1 * 25m-n

42m * 32m-3 * 52m -2n+5 * 5-8

2m+2 * 2m-2 * 3m-2 * 22m * 52m * 3m-1 * 5m-1 * 52m-2n

=
24m * 32m-3 * 55m -2n+5 * 5-8

= 2m+2+m-2 +2m-4m
* 3m-2 +m-1-2m+3 * 52m+m-1+2m-2n +8 -5m-+2n -5
= 20* 30 * 5-1+8 -5 = 52 = 25
Simplification

2a * 2a+2 * 3a+2* 26a * 34a+4b

Simplify
3a - b * 32a+b-2 * 24a+2b-4* 26* 32

= 2a+a+2+6a -4a -2b+4-6 * 3a+2+4a+4b-a+b-2a-b+2-2

= 24a-2b* 32a+4b+2
= 42a-b* 9a+2b+1
 Class Discussion Exercise 1

5x 2x
If =125 & =2
5y
4y
5 2x
x
= 53 gives (x-y) =3 = 2 gives (x-2y) = 1
5y 4y

Solving y=2 & x=5

 Class Discussion Exercise 2

32x
Find the value of +4
27 y

2x 1 gives (x-2y) =1
y =2
4
32x 310
+4= + 4 =85
27y
3 6
 Class Discussion Exercise 3

Given 5a + 2b+1 = 189

5a+1 +2b-2 = 633, find a & b satisfying the above
equations

5a+1 + 2b-2 = 633

From this
b -2 = 3
a+1 = 4
a = 3 and b = 5.
Substituting a = 3 and b =5 in the first equation, we
find it is satisfied.
 Class Discussion Exercise 4

If p + q + r = 0, then find the value of

1 1 1
p2 qr q2 rp r2 pq
[a ] • [a ] • [a ]
1 1 1
p3 pqr q3 pqr r3 pqr
= [a ] • [a ] • [a ]
1
p3+q3+r3 pqr
=[a ]
If p + q + r = 0, p3 + q3 + r3 = 3pqr
1 1 1
p2 qr q2 rp r2 pq
[a ] • [a ] • [a ] = a 3
 Class Discussion Exercise 5

If 4x = 9y = 6z, find x in terms of y & z

Let 4x = 9y=6z = k
1 1 1
2x 2y
2 =k 3 =k 6=kz
2*3=6
1 1 1 1 1 1
2x 2y z + =
k *k =k 2x 2y z
 Class Discussion Exercise 6

If ax = by = abz, find x in terms of y & z

Let ax = by=abz = k
1 1 1
a = k x b = k y ab = kz
a * b = ab
1 1 1 1
x y z 1 1
k *k =k + y=
x z
 Indices and Solving for unknowns

If 32a =25b and 2a =50b,

then find the value of a.
25a =25b 2a =50b

Dividing 24a = 2-1

a = -1/4
Indices & Surds – Comparison of Numbers
Which is Greater Which is Greater Which is Greater
2150 3100 264 313 *414 763 1840
(23)50 (32)50 264 = 432 (73)21 (182)20
(8)50 < (9)50 313 < 413 (343)21 > (324)20
313*414 < 427
2150 < 3100 Which is Greater
2 64
>3 13
*4 14
3200 24240
Which is Greater Which is Greater (35)40 (242)20
575 650 3224 5920 (243)20 > (242)20
(53)25 (62)25 2120 5920 Which is greater
(125)25 > (36)25 6420 >5920 3111 1714

575 > 650 3224 > 5920 3111 < (25)11 <255
1711 > (24)14 > 256
3111 < 1714

Method 1 Method2. Manipulate Powers and

Make powers same
by considering HCF Bases. compare the numbers
 Indices & Surds – Comparison of Numbers

Which is greater 4444 or 4444 or 4444 ?

256 < 444 < 1024 44 < 444 < 45 (44)4 < 4444 < (45)4
416 < 4444 < 420
16 < 44 < 64 (42)44 < 4444 < (43)44 488< 4444 < 4132
Greatest is 4444
 CEQA08001

Find the natural

number n such that
213+210+2n is a perfect
square of an integer?
x 2 = 213 + 210 + 2n
= 210 (23 + 1 + 2n-10)
= 210 (9 + 2n-10)
= 210 (32+ 2n-10 )
(32+2n-10) should be a
perfect square.
2n-10 = 4 2 = 24 .
Hence n = 14.
 CEQA08002

If x is a natural
number, then the
greatest integer with
which 5x+5x+1+5x+2
would be always
divisible by is
5x+5x+1+5x+2
= 5x (1+5 +25)
= 5x (31)
The answer is 155
 Introduction to Surds
Find the conjugate of √13 - 2 √13 +2
Find the rationalising factor of 41/3 – 31/3

[a3 - b3]= (a – b) (a2 + ab +b2)

Let a = 41/3 and b = 31/3
Rationalising factor = 42/3 + 121/3 + 32/3

1
= is equal to
2 1/3 -
1
[a3 - b3]= (a – b) (a2 + ab +b2)

Let a = 21/3 and b =1

1 2- 1
= = 22/3 + 21/3 +1
2 1/3 -
1 21/3 - 1
 Comparison of Surds

Which is greater Which is greater

½ ⅓ ⅓ ¼
2 or 3 3 or 4

(2½)6 (3⅓) 6 (3 ⅓)12 (4¼) 12

(23) < (32)
(34 ) > (43)
½ ⅓
2 < 3 ⅓ ¼
Which is greater 3 > 4
Which is greater
¼
4 or 5 1⁄
5
5 ⁄5
1
or 61⁄6
¼ 20
(5 5)
1⁄ 20
(4 )
(5
1⁄
5 ) 30 1⁄
(6 6 )30
(45 ) > (54)
(56 ) > (65)
¼
4 >51⁄
5

⁄5 > 6 ⁄6
a 1⁄a
>b 1⁄b
if a < b 5and a >2
1 1
 Simplifying Surds

3 4 6 25 72

1/
= (25 ) 72
(6*4*3*2)
1/
= (5 144
) 6*4*3*2
1/
= (5 144
) 6*4*3*2

=5
 Using Expressions involving Surds

1 2
If x = 2 + 2 3+ 2 3 ,
what is the value of
x3 – 6x2+6x – 2?
13 23
(x – 2) = 2 + 2
1 2
(x – 2) = [2 3+ 2 3]3
3

x3 – 6x2 + 12x - 8
13 2
3
= 2 + 4 + 6 (2 +2 )

x3 – 6x2 + 12x – 8
= 2 + 4 + 6(x-2)

x3 – 6x2 + 6x - 2 = 0
Using Surds to find the value of an expression

If x =2+√3 +√5, find the

value of x4 – 8x3+8x +32x?

(x – 2) = √3 +√5

(x – 2)2 = (√3 +√5)2

x2 –4x+4 = 8+2√15

x2 –4x-4 = 2√15
(x2 –4x-4)2 = 60

x4+16x2+16-8x3-8x2+32x = 60

x4-8x3+8x2+32x +16= 60

x4-8x3+8x2+32x = 44
 Comparison of Surds
Arrange the given surds in ascending order
√7 + √17 √8 + √14 √10+√14 √3 + √22

[√7 +√17]2 = 7+17 +2√119 = 24 + 2√119 10<√119<11 44 <√7 + √17 < 46

[√8 +√14]2 = 8+14 +2√112 = 22 + 2√112 10<√112<11 42 <√8 +√14 < 44

[√10+√14]2 =10+14 +2√140 = 24 + 2√140 11<√140 <12 46<[√10+√14]<48

[√3 +√22]2 =3+22 +2√66= 25+2√66 8<√66 <9 41<[√3+√22]<43

[√7 +√17] < [√10 +√14] & [√7 +√17] > [√8 +√14] and [√3 +√22]
[√8 +√14] = 22 + 2√112 [√3 +√22] = 22 + 3 + 2√66

To check whether √8 +√14 or √3 +√22 is greater it is enough to find

out whether 2√112 or 3+2√66 is greater.
{3+2√66}2 = 9+264 +12√66 = 273 +12√66<273+108 =381

{2√112}2 = 448 > 3+2√ 66 [√8 +√14] >[√3 +√22]

[√3 +√22] < [√8 +√14] <[√7 +√17] < [√10 +√14]
 Finding the Square Root of a Surd
Basic Concept - [√m+ √n]2 = m + n + 2√m√n
Step 1 - Check whether there is a rational number and the
irrational part consist of 2 multiplied with an irrational part.
Step 2 - Split the irrational part as product of 2 numbers whose
sum equals the rational part.

Find 7+2√12 Find 15+2√56 Find 29+12√5

12 = 4*3 56 = 8*7 29+2√180

7 = 4+3 15 = 8+7 180 = 20*9
29 = 20+9
7+2√12= [√4+√3]2 15+2√56 = [√8+√7]2
29+2√180 =[√20+√9]2
7+2√12 = √4 +√3 15+2√56
29+12√5
= 2+√3 =(√8 +√7)
=(√20 +√9)
 Simplifying expressions involving Surds

(1+X) + (1-X)
If x=1/2 , is equal to
(1+X) - (1-X)
Substituting x =1/2, the given expression becomes

3+ 1
3-1

√3 + 1 √3 + 1
= *
√3 - 1 √3 + 1
(√3 + 1)2
=
2
(√3 + 1)
=
√2
(√6 + √2)
=
2
 CEQA08001

x-y x-y
+ =4
√x +√y √x -√y
find the value of x
√x +√y +√x -√y =4
2√x = 4
 CEQA08002

If 11√11 √11 √11…… = 14641x

find x
Let K = 11√11 √11 √11……

k = 11 k k2 = 11k k = 11

11 = 14641x 11 = 114x

1 = 4x 1
x=
4
CEQA08003

3 +2√2 - 3 -2√2 x
If = x = ???
3 +2√2 + 3 -2√2 32

3 +2√2 = (√2)2 +(√1)2 +2√2 √1 = √2 +1

3 -2√2 = (√2)2 +(√1)2 -2√2 √1 = √2 -1

3 +2√2 - 3 -2√2 √2 + 1 - √2 + 1
= √2 + 1 + √2 - 1
3 +2√2 + 3 -2√2
2
=
2√2
1 x
=
√2 = 32

x = 16
 CEQA08004

1+….. Infinity
______________
1+
X
1+ _______________
X
Simplify 1+ _______________
X
1+….. Infinity
______________
1+
X
1+ _______________
X
Let y = 1+ _______________
X
y
__
y = 1+
x
xy – x – y = 0

x
____
y=
x -1