Rules of Indices (Powers)

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  • Created by: daynayume
  • Created on: 22-02-16 21:15

Multiplying Indices

When multiplying add the powers.

23 × 24 = (2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2 × 2)

= 27

1 of 6

Dividing Indicies

When dividing subtract the powers.

25 ÷ 22 =  2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 over 2 x 2 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/6a11d2092a67590e3b6b415cb3abf866a5df6227.png) = 2 × 2 × 2 (Cancelling two of the 2s)

= 23

2 of 6

The Power of a Power

When taking the power of a number already raised to a power, multiply the powers.

For example this is how to find the square of 23.

square of 23 = (23)2 = (2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2) = 26

Notice that the answer has an index of 6, which comes from multiplying the powers at the beginning (3 x 2).

3 of 6

Zero Powers

Anything to the power 0 is equal to 1.

4 of 6

Negative Powers

e.g. a-b = (http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/f0ba8709f1c806ebe0fb94b0941083c4a2cbbddb.gif)

for example;

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/65ba0afbc48f0c744411d5c36fce37a1bea0d4ea.gif)

5 of 6

Fractional Powers

a1/2 = (http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/576fbddd43519117005e8f92c7a2c8a5dfac419c.gif)

a1/3 = (http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/e5e02cbceb7abc1c4e512ac7331de027973af176.gif)

6 of 6

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