Indices

Tracking C

Learning Objective:
- to evaluate (grade C) and simplify (grade B)
expressions containing fractional indices and brackets
(grade A)

Key words: indices, evaluate, fractional, simplify

Evaluate the following indices:
a)42
b)32
c)23
d)-63
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 Fractional Indices
40 = 1
41 = 4
42 = 16
43 = 64 etc

4½ = 2 or -2 1

9½ = 3 or -3 a = a
2 2

In general:
1 m

a = a
n n
and a n
= ( a)
n m
Only use a calculator to check your answer!
Don’t forget for even roots there will be a positive and a
negative answer!

Worked example:
8-1/3
= 1 Another Example:
81/3 324/5
1
=3
8 = ( 4 32 ) 5
=
1 = 25
2
= 64