Indices Laws
What are Indices? Indices, or exponents, are a mathematical notation used to represent repeated
multiplication of a number or variable. It is written in the form:
𝑎𝑛
where:
• a is the base
• n is the index or exponent
Indices Laws
Here are the fundamental laws of indices:
1. Product Law:
o 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
2. Quotient Law:
o 𝑎𝑚 ÷ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛
3. Power Law:
o (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛
4. Zero Index Law:
o 𝑎0 = 1 (where a ≠ 0)
5. Negative Index Law:
1
o 𝑎−𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛
Practice Problems
1. Simplify: 𝑥 3 × 𝑥 5
o Answer: 𝑥 8
2. Simplify: 𝑦 7 ÷ 𝑦 2
o Answer: 𝑦 5
3. Simplify: (𝑥 2 )4
o Answer: 𝑥 8
4. Evaluate: 20
o Answer: 1
5. Simplify: 3−2
1
o Answer: 9
6. Simplify: (2𝑥 3 )2
o Answer: 4𝑥 6
7. Simplify: (𝑥 2 𝑦 3 )4
o Answer: 𝑥 8 𝑦12
𝑎3 𝑏2
8. Simplify: 𝑎2 𝑏
o Answer: 𝑎𝑏
9. Simplify: (𝑥 4 )3
o Answer: 𝑥 12
10. Evaluate: 5−1
1
• Answer: 5
11. Simplify: (2𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )3
• Answer: 8𝑥 9 𝑦 6
12. Simplify: (𝑎2 𝑏 3 )−2
1
• Answer: 𝑎4 𝑏6
13. Simplify: (𝑥 3 𝑦 −2 )4
𝑥 12
• Answer: 𝑦8
14. Simplify: (23 )2
• Answer: 64
15. Simplify: (𝑥 −2 𝑦 3 )−2
𝑥4
• Answer: 𝑦6
16. Simplify: (32 )−1
1
• Answer: 9
17. Simplify: (𝑥 5 𝑦 −3 )2
𝑥 10
• Answer: 𝑦6
18. Simplify: (23 )−2
1
• Answer:
64
19. Simplify: (𝑥 −3 𝑦 2 )−3
𝑥9
• Answer:
𝑦6
20. Simplify: (𝑎2 𝑏 −3 )4
𝑎8
• Answer: 𝑏12
Remember to practice regularly to master these laws and apply them effectively in various
mathematical problems.
Solving Indices Equations
What are Indices Equations? Indices equations are equations that involve exponents or powers. To
solve these equations, we often use the laws of indices to simplify the expressions and isolate the
variable.
General Approach to Solving Indices Equations:
1. Simplify Both Sides: Use the laws of indices to simplify both sides of the equation.
2. Equate the Bases: If possible, make the bases on both sides the same.
3. Equate the Exponents: If the bases are the same, equate the exponents.
4. Solve the Resulting Equation: Solve the equation obtained in step 3.
Examples
1. Solve: 2𝑥 = 16
o Solution: 2𝑥 = 24 Therefore, 𝑥 = 4
2. Solve: 3𝑥+1 = 27
o Solution: 3𝑥+1 = 33 Therefore, 𝑥 + 1 = 3 So, 𝑥 = 2
3. Solve: 52𝑥−1 = 125
o Solution: 52𝑥−1 = 53 Therefore, 2𝑥 − 1 = 3 So, 𝑥 = 2
4. Solve: 4𝑥+2 = 64
o Solution: 4𝑥+2 = 43 Therefore, 𝑥 + 2 = 3 So, 𝑥 = 1
5. Solve: 22𝑥+1 = 32
o Solution: 22𝑥+1 = 25 Therefore, 2𝑥 + 1 = 5 So, 𝑥 = 2
1
6. Solve: 3𝑥−2 = 9
o Solution: 3𝑥−2 = 3−2 Therefore, 𝑥 − 2 = −2 So, 𝑥 = 0
1
7. Solve: 23𝑥−1 = 16
o Solution: 23𝑥−1 = 2−4 Therefore, 3𝑥 − 1 = −4 So, 𝑥 = −1
1
8. Solve: 5𝑥+2 = 25
o Solution: 5𝑥+2 = 5−2 Therefore, 𝑥 + 2 = −2 So, 𝑥 = −4
9. Solve: 32𝑥+1 = 81
o Solution: 32𝑥+1 = 34 Therefore, 2𝑥 + 1 = 4 So, 𝑥 = 1.5
1
10. Solve: 2𝑥−3 =
8
o Solution: 2𝑥−3 = 2−3 Therefore, 𝑥 − 3 = −3 So, 𝑥 = 0
Practice Questions
1. Solve: 4𝑥 = 64
2. Solve: 32𝑥−1 = 27
3. Solve: 2𝑥+3 = 16
4. Solve: 5𝑥−2 = 125
5. Solve: 33𝑥+1 = 81
1
6. Solve: 22𝑥−3 = 8
7. Solve: 4𝑥+1 = 64
1
8. Solve: 3𝑥−2 = 27
9. Solve: 23𝑥+2 = 32
1
10. Solve: 52𝑥−1 = 25
11. Solve: 3𝑥+2 = 81
1
12. Solve: 2𝑥−1 = 16
13. Solve: 42𝑥+1 = 64
1
14. Solve: 3𝑥−3 = 81
15. Solve: 23𝑥−2 = 32
16. Solve: 5𝑥+3 = 125
17. Solve: 32𝑥+2 = 81
1
18. Solve: 2𝑥−2 = 16
19. Solve: 43𝑥+1 = 64
1
20. Solve: 3𝑥−3 = 27
Note: To solve more complex indices equations, you may need to use logarithms or other advanced
techniques.
Answers:
Here are the answers to the 20 practice questions:
1. 𝑥 = 3
2. 𝑥 = 2
3. 𝑥 = 1
4. 𝑥 = 4
5. 𝑥 = 1
6. 𝑥 = 1
7. 𝑥 = 1
8. 𝑥 = 3
9. 𝑥 = 1
10. 𝑥 = 2
11. 𝑥 = 1
12. 𝑥 = 3
1
13. 𝑥 =
2
14. 𝑥 = 4
15. 𝑥 = 2
16. 𝑥 = 2
17. 𝑥 = 1
18. 𝑥 = 4
1
19. 𝑥 = 2
20. 𝑥 = 4
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