POWERS AND SQUARED ROOTS

1. Powers

When we wish to multiply a number by itself we use powers.

For example, the quantity 7 4 = 7 × 7 × 7 × 7. The number 4 tells us the number of sevens to be
multiplied together. In this example, the index or exponent, is 4. The number 7 is called the base.

Example

62 = 6× 6 = 36. We say that ‘6 squared is 36’, or ‘6 to the power 2 is 36’.

25 = 2× 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32. We say that ‘2 to the power 5 is 32’.

2. Properties of the powers


Power of a Power Property: This property states that the power of a power can be found by
multiplying the exponents.
(am)n = amn

Product of Powers Property: This property states that to multiply powers having the same
base, add the exponents.
am · an = am+n

Quotient of Powers Property: This property states that to divide powers having the same
base, subtract the exponents.


Power of a Product Property: This property states that the power of a product can be
obtained by finding the powers of each factor and multiplying them.
(ab)m = am · bm

Power of a Quotient Property: This property states that the power of a quotient can be
obtained by finding the powers of numerator and denominator and dividing them.

Examples of Power Properties

 Power of a Power Property: (22)3 = 22×3 = 26 = 64

 Product of Powers Property: 22 × 25 = 22+5 = 27 = 128

 Power of a Product Property: (3 × 4)2 = 32 × 42 = 9 × 16 = 144

 Quotient of Powers Property: = 54-3 = 51 = 5

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  Power of a Quotient Property:

3. Perfect squares

A square number, sometimes also called a perfect square, is an integer that is the square of an
integer.

So, for example, 9 is a square number, since it can be written as 3 2 ; 9 = 3 2

Other square numbers are 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81....

4. Square roots

When 5 is squared we obtain 25. That is 52 = 25.

The reverse of this process is called finding a square root. The square root of 25 is 5, because 52 =
25 This is written as 25  5

Note also that when −5 is squared we again obtain 25, that is (-5) 2 = 25. This means that 25 has
another square root, −5.

In general, a square root of a number is a number which when squared gives the original number.

There are always two square roots of any positive number, one positive and one negative.

However, negative numbers do not possess any square roots.

Exercises

1. Write as a single power:

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 a.

b.

c.

d.

2. Calculate the following expressions:

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

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