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4

Indices

4.1

Introduction
indices

(2)3

41

22

102

ax

xa

Previously (see Topic 1, Section 6) we have dealt only with indices which were positive
or negative integers, or zeros.
Now we turn to indices which are fractions.

4.2

Fractional Indices

The square root, written

a, of a positive number a, is the number which, when squared

(multiplied by itself once) gives a.

e.g. 1 = 1,

4 = 2,

9=3

Alternatively, the square root may be written with a fractional index as:

Thus,

a = a2

1
( a)2 = (a 2 )2 = a

i.e.

a = a2 a2 = a

For example,
1

92 =

= 3

(square root of 9)
because

3| {z
3} = 9
2 factors

Similarly,
1

83 =

= 2

(cube root of 8)
because 2| {z
2 2} = 8
3 factors
41

and
1

8 3 =

1
1

83
1
=
2

In general, the k-th root of a is


l

ak =

[When k = 2, we usually write

k
k . . . ak = a
i.e., a
| a {z
}
k factors

a merely as

a]

Exercises 4.1:
1

(i) 4 2
1

(ii) 9 2
1

(iii) 16 4
1

(iv) 25 2

(v) (32) 5

4.3

Multiplication

Recall a0 = 1 (a 6= 0)

(Topic 1, Section 6)

Example:
add indices
z }| {
3
4
7
2| {z
2} = |2 {z
2 2} 2| 2 {z
2 2} = 2| 2 2 {z
2 2 2 2} = 2 (= 23+4 )
3 times
4 times
3 + 4 = 7 times
same base
am an = am+n
42

Exercises 4.2:
(i) 32 34
(ii) 52 53
(iii) 43 43
(iv) 22 32
(v) x2 x3
(vi) x2 y x5 y 2
(vii) 2xy 3x2 y 4
(viii) 3x2 (2x x3 )

4.4

Division

Example:

3 times
z }| {
3
333
=
=
5
3| 3 {z
3 3 3}
3
3

5 times

1
3| {z
3}
53=2

1
= 2 = 32
3

times

am
= amn
n
a

Note:
a
= a11 = a0 = 1
a
43

(a 6= 0)

subtract indices
z }| {
(= 335 )

Exercises 4.3:
(i)

27
23

(ii)

54
54

(iii)

34
35

(iv)

(3)4
(3)5

(v)

x7 y 5
x4 y 3

(vi)
(vii)
(viii)

4.5

15x5 y 2
3x5 y
10xz
5z
a6
b3

b2
a2

(am )n

Example:
multiply indices
z }| {
2 3
6
5 5 5} = 5
5} 5| {z
5} = 5| 5 5 {z
(= 523 )
(5 ) = |5 {z
5} 5| {z
2 times
23=6 times
{z
}
|2 times 2 times
3

times

(am )n = amn
p

Let us consider a k = (a k )p where p, k are integers (6= 0). i.e. the index
In particular, we have:
2

3 a3
3
3
3
a 3 = a 3 .2 = (a 3 )2 = a
| {z
} [with a
| a{z a } = a]
2 factors
3 factors

= ( 3 a)2

44

p
k

is a fraction.

For example,

1
= (8 3 )2 = ( 3 8)2

(i)

83

=4

=4

=
=

1
163/2
1
43
1
64

1
( 16)3

or

16 2 = (24 ) 2
3

= 24( 2 )=2
=

Exercises 4.4:
(i) (25 )4
1

(ii) (24 ) 2

(iii) [(10) 3 ]3
3

(iv) [(27) 3 ] 2
9

(v) (4 3 ) 8
2

= (23 ) 3
= 23 3 = 22

83

= 22

(ii) 16 2 =

or

(vi) 2 3 4 3
(vii) (x3 y 2 )3
1

(viii) (x2 ) 2
(ix) x3 y 6
4

(x) 8 3

45

1
64

Topic Revision Exercises 4.5:


(i) (32 )2
1

(ii) 2 2 2 3
1

(iii) (2 2 ) 3
5

(iv)

27
3
24

 3
81 4
16

(v) [Hard]


=

(34 ) 4
3

(24 ) 4

Note: When using the solidus or slash (/) for division, be very careful.
e.g. x/2x = x (2x)
=

not

1
2

x
2

x =
=

2
x2
2

Refer to similar comment in Topic 3, section 2.


Warning! Care should be taken when calculating roots of negative numbers. e.g.
1

(8) 3 =

= 2

but (4) 2 =

since (2) (2) (2) = 8


|
{z
}
3 times

4 has no value in the system of real numbers (see Topic 9). [ 4 is

an example of a complex number. The system of complex numbers is an extension of the


system of real numbers.]

46

4.6

Answers to Exercises

4.1:
(i) 2
(ii)

(iii)

1
3

1
2

(v) 2

(iv) 5

4.2:
(i) 36
(ii) 51 =

(v) x5
1
5

(vi) x7 y 3

(iii) 1(= 40 )

(vii) 6x3 y 5

(iv) (2 3)3 = 62 = 36 = 4 9

(viii) 6x3 3x5

4.3:
(i) 24

(iii) 3

(v) x3 y 2

(vii) 2x

(ii) 1

(iv) (3)1 = 13

(vi) 5y

(viii)

a4
b

4.4:
2

(i) 220
(ii) 22

1
4

(vii) x9 y 6

(iii) 100

(viii) x1 =

(iv) 729

(ix) (xy 2 )3

(v) 4 2 = (22 ) 2 = 23 = 8

(x)

1
16

(v)

8
27

4.5:
(i)

1
81
1

(ii) 2 6

(vi) 4 (Note 4 3 = (22 ) 3 = 2 3 )

(iii) 2 6

(iv) 2 28

47

1
x

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