Indices and Surds

Index:
We know, a . a . a. a . ……………………. n times = a n

Here ‘n’ is called the index or power of base ‘a’.

Note: a0 = 1, and a1 = a

Eg. 25 = 2 . 2 . 2 . 2 . 2, 34 = 3 . 3 . 3. 3, 44 = 4 . 4 . 4 . 4

Laws of Indices:

i) am . an = am+n

ii) am ÷ an = am – n

iii) (am)n = amn = (an)m

Laws of Indices:

iv) (ab)m = am bm

v) (a / b)m = am / bm

vi) 1 / am = a-m ; a ≠ 0

vii) ax = ay, iff x = y (a ≠ 0)

viii) ax = bx, iff a = b (x ≠ 0)

 Fractional Index

X1/2 = 2 1
x
Xp/q = q p
x
 m 2n 3m 8n
Simplify x .x
5m 6n
x
 m  2 n 3 m  8 n
x . x
5 m  6 n
x
m  2 n  3 m  8 n
x
 5 m  6 n
x
4 m  6 n
x
 5 m  6 n
x
(4 m  6 n ) (5 m  6 n )
 x
 m
 x
 Show that

n  1
3 .2  2 n
 2
2 n 2
 2 n  1

3 .2 n.2  2 n
  1
 2
2 n .2 2  ( 2 n.2 )
2 n
(6  1)
  2
2 n
(4  1 / 2 )
7
  2
7
2

 7  2
7  2
 2  2
 Show that

a 2 abb2 b2 bcc 2 c 2 caa 2

x 
a
x 
b
x 
c
 b    c    a 
x  x  x 
1
 Show that

1 1
nm
 mn
 1
1 a 1 a
 1 1
n  m
 m  n
1  a 1  a
1 1
 
1  am 1  an
n
a a m

1 1
 a m
 a n  a n
 a m
m
a a n
m n
a a
 
a m
 a n
a m
 a n

a m
 a n

a m
 a n

 1
If 2x=3y=(12)z, show that

1 1 2
 
z y x
Let 2  3  (12)  k
x y z

 2  k ; 3  k ; 12  k
1/ x 1/ y 1/ z

We know, 12  2  2  3
 k  k k
1/ z 1/ x 1/ x
k 1/ y

1 2 1
  
z x y
If ax=(a/k)y=km, show that

1 1 1
 
m x y
a x
 k m
;  k  a x / m

y
 a 
Again ,   k m

 k 
y
a
 y
 k m
;  a y
 k m
.k y

k
 a y
 a x / m
 . a
m x /m
 y

 a y
 a x
 a xy / m

 y  x  xy
m

 my  mx  xy

 1 1 1 22
  
If 2x=4y=8z and 2 x 4 show
y 8 that
z 7

7 7 7
x , y z
16 32 48
If ax=by=cz=dw, and ab=cd, show that

1 1 1 1
  
x y z w
 Let, ax=by=cz=dw = k

 a  k 1/ x
, b  k 1/ y
, c  k 1/ z

d  k 1/ w

 ab  cd 
 1 2

If x  2 3
 2 3
, show that

x3-6x=6
 Surds

A surd is defined as the irrational root of a rational number,

n
e.g.
a
Where it is not possible to extract exactly the nth root of a.

n
In other words, a real number a is called a surd if and
only if
(i) it is an irrational number, and
(ii) it is a root of a rational number.

In the surd n a , the index n is called the order of the surd and
‘a’ the radicand.
√3 is a surd, it is an irrational root of the
rational number 3 .
3 5
5, 8 are surds

4
But 3
8, 16 are not surds.

Similarly, 3 3  5 is not surd.

Mixed Surd: having coefficient other than  1 .

Entire Surd: having no coefficient (other than  1).
 Operation on Suds
n
(i)
n
a. n
b= ab
n
a a
n
(ii) n =
b b

mn
m n
a a n m
a
(iii) = =

(iv)
m
a b
 mn
a bn

(v) ( a)  a
n m n m
Similar surds: Two surds are similar if they can
be reduced to same irrational factors.
E.g. 48 and 147 are similar surds , because
they can be put as 4 3 and 7 3 .
 Rationalizing Factor

a x . x = ax
Rationalize
7 3 5 2
48  18
7 3 5 2 48  18
 
48  18 48  18
(7 3  5 2 )  ( 4 3  3 2 )

48  18
7 3 (4 3  3 2 )  5 2 (4 3  3 2 )

30
Cont’d

7 3(4 3  3 2)  5 2(4 3  3 2)

30
84 21 6  20 6  30

30
114 41 6

30
 Properties of Bi-quadratic Surds

I. If a  b  x  y or a  b  x  y
then, a = x and b = y.

II. If a  b  c then, b = 0 and

III. If a  b  x  y then, a b  x  y
 Root of a Mixed Surd

14 + 6√5