Laws of Indices Revision

Laws of indices
The following laws of indices are true for all values of a, b, and x.
1. xa x xb = xa + b
2. x a ÷ xb = x a – b
3. xo = 1
4. x– a = 1
xa
Examples
Simplify
(a) 83 x 82 (b) 8p7 ÷ 4p2 (c) 230 (d) 5-2

(a) 83 x 82 = 82 + 3 = 85
8
(b) 8p7 ÷ 4p2 = x p7 – 2 = 2p5
4
(c) 230 =1
1
(d) 5-2 = 1 =
25
2
5
Exercise
Simplify the following
(1) 106 x 105 (2) 6t x 5t3 (3) h6 ÷ h3
(4) 450 (5) 8 –2 (6) 5p2 x 3p3 x 2p– 2

Product of Indices
(xa)b = xaxb

Examples
Simplify
(a) (p2)3 (b) (y4)2 (c) (3m4)2
(a) (p2)3 = p 2 x 3 = p6
(b) (y4)2 = y 4 x 2 = y8
(c) (3m4)2 = (3)2 x m 4 x 2 = 9m8
Exercise
Simplify the following
(1) (g3)2 (2) (f0)8 (3) (3h – 2 )7
(4) (3 – 2 )– 3 (5) 4(e4)5 (6) (a3b4)2

Fractional Indices
𝒏
√𝒂 = 𝒂𝟏/𝒏

Examples
Find the value of
(a) 16½ (b) 27⅓ (c) 125⅔

(a) 16½ = √16 = 4

3
(b) 27⅓ = √27 = 3
3
(c) 125⅔ = (√125)2 = (5)2 = 25

Simplify
(a) (25a4)½ (b) (d3h3)⅓ (c) x⅔ ÷x-⅕

(a) (25a4)½ = 25½ x (a4) ½ = √25 x a 4 x ½ = 5a2

(b) (d3h3)⅓ = d3x⅓ x h3x⅓ = dh
(c) x⅔ ÷x-⅕ = x⅔ – (-⅓) = x

Exercise
Find the value of
27
(1) 36½ (2) 81¼ (3) 25⅔ (4) ( )-⅔
64

Simplify
(1) (x2y3z-½)2 (2) (2d⅖)5 (3) (x2y4)½ ÷ y-2