AS-Level Maths:

Core 1
for Edexcel

C1.1 Algebra and

functions 1
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Using and manipulating surds

Using and manipulating surds

Contents

Rationalizing the denominator

The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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Types of number
We can classify numbers into the following sets:
The set of natural numbers, :
Positive whole numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, 4 }
The set of integers, :
Positive and negative whole numbers {0, 1, 2, 3 }
The set of rational numbers, :
Numbers that can be expressed in the form mn , where n and
m are integers. All fractions and all terminating and recurring
decimals are rational numbers; for example, , 0.63, 0.2.
The set of real numbers, :
All numbers including irrational numbers; that is, numbers
that cannot be expressed in the form mn , where n and m are
integers. For example, and 2 .
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Introducing surds
2, 3
3 or
5,
When the square root of a number, for example 2,
or 5,is
irrational, it is often preferable to write it with the root sign.
Numbers written in this form are called surds.
Can you explain why 1.69
1.69 is not a surd?

1.69 is not a surd because it is not irrational.

1.69
169
1.69 =
100
169
=
100
13
=
10
= 1.3
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This uses the fact that

a
a
=
b
b

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Manipulating surds
When working with surds it is important to remember the
following two rules:
ab = a b
and
a
a
=
b
b

Also:

a a =a

You should also remember that, by definition, aa means the

positive square root of a.

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Simplifying surds
We are often required to simplify surds by writing them in the
form a b.
We can do this using the fact that
For example:

ab = a b .

Simplify 50 by writing it in the form a b.

Start by finding the largest square number that divides into 50.

This is 25. We can use this to write:

50 = 252
= 25 2

=5 2
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Simplifying surds
Simplify the following surds by writing
b.
them in the form aab.

1) 45

45 = 95

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3) 3 40

2) 98

98 = 492

40 = 3 8 5

= 9 5

= 49 2

= 3 83 5

=3 5

=7 2

= 23 5

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Simplifying surds

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Adding and subtracting surds

Surds can be added or subtracted if the number under the
square root sign is the same. For example:
Simplify 45 + 80.

Start by writing 45 and 80 in their simplest forms.

45 = 95

80 = 165

= 9 5

= 16 5

=3 5

=4 5

45 + 80 = 3 5 + 4 5 = 7 5
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Expanding brackets containing surds

Simplify the following:
1) (4 2)(1+ 3 2)

2) ( 7 2)( 7 + 2)

= 4 +12 2 2 6

= 7+ 2 7 2 7 2

= 11 2 2

=5

Problem 2) demonstrates the fact that (a b)(a + b) = a2 b2.

In general:
( a b )( a + b ) a b

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Rationalizing the denominator

Contents

Using and manipulating surds

Rationalizing the denominator
The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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Rationalizing the denominator

When a fraction contains a surd as the denominator we
usually rewrite it so that the denominator is a rational number.
This is called rationalizing the denominator. For example:

5
Simplify the fraction
.
2
In this example we rationalize the denominator by multiplying
the numerator and the denominator by 2.
2

5
5 2
=
2
2
2
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Rationalizing the denominator

Simplify the following fractions by
rationalizing their denominators.
2
1)
3

2)
3

2
2 3
=
3
3
3

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2
5

3
3)
4 7
5

2
=
5
5

10
5

3
3 7
=
28
4 7
7

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Rationalizing the denominator

When the denominator involves sums of differences between
surds we can use the fact that
(a b)(a + b) = a2 b2
to rationalize the denominator. For example:
Simplify

1
5 2

1
.
5 2

1
5 2

5 +2
5 +2

5 +2
=
54

= 5 +2
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Rationalizing the denominator

More difficult examples may include surds in both the
numerator and the denominator. For example:

2 3 1
.
Simplify
3 +1
2 3 1 (2 3 1)( 3 1)
=
3 +1
( 3 +1)( 3 1)
73 3
=
3 1
=
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73 3
2

Working:

3 1

3 1

= 6 2 3 3 + 1
=7 3 3

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The index laws

Contents

Using and manipulating surds

Rationalizing the denominator
The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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Index notation
Simplify:

a to the power of 5

a a a a a = a5
a5 has been written using index notation.

The number a is
called the base.

an

The number n is called

the index, power or
exponent.

In general:
n of these

an = a a a a

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Index notation
Evaluate the following:
0.62 = 0.6 0.6 = 0.36

34 = 3 3 3 3 = 81
(5)3 = 5 5 5 = 125

When we raise a
negative number to
an odd power the
answer is negative.

27 = 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 = 128

(1)5 = 1 1 1 1 1 = 1
(4)4 = 4 4 4 4 = 256

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When we raise a
negative number to
an even power the
answer is positive.

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The multiplication rule

When we multiply two terms with the
same base the indices are added.
For example:
a4 a2 = (a a a a) (a a)
=aaaaaa
= a6 = a (4 + 2)
In general:
am an = a(m + n)

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The division rule

When we divide two terms with the
same base the indices are subtracted.

For example:
a5

a2

aaaaa
=
aa

= a3 = a (5 2)

4p6

2p4

4pppppp
=
= 2p2 = 2p(6 4)
2pppp

In general:
am an = a(m n)

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The power rule

When a term is raised to a power and the result
raised to another power, the powers are multiplied.
For example:
(y3)2 = y3 y3

(pq2)4 = pq2 pq2 pq2 pq2

= (y y y) (y y y)

= p4 q (2 + 2 + 2 + 2)

= y6 = y32

= p4 q8
= p4q8 = p14q24

In general:
(am)n = amn
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Using index laws

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Zero and negative indices

Contents

Using and manipulating surds

Rationalizing the denominator
The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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The zero index

Any number or term divided
by itself is equal to 1.

Look at the following division:

y4 y4 = 1

But using the rule that xm xn = x(m n)

y4 y4 = y(4 4) = y0
That means that

y0 = 1

In general:
a0 = 1

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(for all a 0)

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Negative indices
Look at the following division:
b2

b4

bb
bbbb

1
1
=
= 2
bb
b

But using the rule that am an = a(m n)

b2 b4 = b(2 4) = b2
That means that

b2 =

1
b2

In general:
an =

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1
an

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Negative indices
Write the following using fraction notation:

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1
u

This is the
reciprocal of u.

1)

u1 =

2)

2n4 =

2
n4

3) x2y3 =

x2
y3

4) 5a(3

b)2 =

5a
(3 b)2
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Negative indices
Write the following using negative indices:
2
1) = 2a1
a
x3
2) 4 = x3y4
y
p2
3)
= p2(q + 2)1
q+2

3m
4) 2
= 3m(n2 5)3
3
(n 5)

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Fractional indices

Contents

Using and manipulating surds

Rationalizing the denominator
The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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Fractional indices
Indices can also be fractional. For example:
1
2

What is the meaning of a ?

Using the multiplication rule:

1
2

1
2

a a =a

1+1
2 2

= a1
=a

a= a a

But

1
2

So

a = a

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1
2

a is the square
root of a.

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Fractional indices
Similarly:

1
3

1
3

1
3

a a a = a

1+1+1
3 3 3

= a1
=a
a = 3 a 3 a 3 a

But

1
3

1
3

So

a =3a

a is the cube
root of a.

In general:
1
n

a =na

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Fractional indices
2
3

What is the meaning of a ?

2
3

We can write a as a

2 31

Using the rule that (am)n = amn, we can write

2
3

1
3

a (a ) 3 a 2
2
3

We can also write a as a

1 2
3

2
3

.
1
3

a ( a )2 ( 3 a )2

In general:
m
n

a = a

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or

m
n

a =

a
n

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Fractional indices
Evaluate the following:

1) 16

5
4

2) (0.125)

5
4

16 = ( 16)

(0.125)

32

32

3) 36
=8

2
3

36

32

32

1
( 36 )3

= 25

= ( 3 8 )2

= 32

= 22

1
= 3
6

=4

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Summary of the index laws

Here is a summary of the index laws for all rational exponents:
m

a a = a
m

a a =a
m n

(a ) = a

( m+n )

a
( m n )

mn

a =a

a = 1 (for a 0)
0

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1
= n
a

1
2

a = a
1
n

a = a
m
n

a = a

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Solving equations involving indices

Contents

Using and manipulating surds

Rationalizing the denominator
The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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Solving equations involving indices

We can use the index laws to solve certain types of equation
involving indices. For example:
Solve the equation 25x = 1255 x.

25x = 1255 x
(52)x = (53)5 x
52x = 53(5 x)
2x = 3(5 x)
2x = 15 3x
5x = 15
x=3
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Examination-style questions

Contents

Using and manipulating surds

Rationalizing the denominator
The index laws
Zero and negative indices
Fractional indices
Solving equations involving indices
Examination-style questions

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Examination-style question 1
6+ 3
Show that
can be written in the form a + b 2 where
6 3
a and b are integers. Hence find the values of a and b.

Multiplying top and bottom by 6 + 3 gives

6+ 3

6+

So
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= 6+2 6 3 +3
63
3

6+ 3

9 + 2 18
18 can be written as 3 2.
=
3
9+6 2
=
3
= 3+2 2
a = 3 and b = 2
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Examination-style question 2
a) Express 32x in the form 2ax where a is an integer to be
determined.
b) Use your answer to part a) to solve the equation
x

32 = 2

x2

32 = 25
So
32x = (25)x
Using the rule that (am)n = amn
32x = 25x
b) Using the answer from part a) this equation can be written as
5x
x2
2 =2
5x = x2
5x x2 = 0
x (5 x) = 0
x = 0 or x = 5
a)

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