Indices

Tracking C

Learning Objective:
- to evaluate (grade C) and simplify (grade B)
expressions containing indices
Key words: indices, evaluate, fractional
Evaluate the following indices:
a)22
b)42
c)33
d)63

Challenge: can you write these in index form?

a) 6 x 6 x 6 x 6 x 6
b) r x r x r x r x r x r x r x r x r x r x r x r
 What do we mean by index/
indices?
It is a fancy name for ‘power’

Eg. 63 –
the index is 3
r8 –
the index is 8
 Can you solve the puzzle?
How much does each chef get paid?
There are 3 chefs; Paul, The chefs get paid using an Paul gets paid the square
Tom and Bridget. index system. of how many hours he
works.

Tom gets paid using this Combined, all three chefs Bridget is paid using this
formula: worked 36 hours. Paul fomula:
(hours - 2)2 worked twice as many (hours + 4)2
hours as Tom and Bridget.

Bridget’s favourite food is Last week, Tom tripped How much money does each
lettuce. over in the kitchen. chef get paid?
 Simplifying indices…
a6 x a3
=a x a x a x a x a x a xa x a x a
= a9

a3 x a4
=a x a x a xa x a x a x a
= a7
 General Rules
Multiplying
am x an = am+n a5 x a6 = a11

Dividing
am ÷ an = am-n a17 ÷ a8 = a9
 Try it yourself
Exercise
Page
 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