Grade Nine Indices
Mr. Sheldon Darby
Third Form
Group ( Green and Aqua)
Instructions
This is a mixture of both a semi interactive PowerPoint and a general PowerPoint aim at
covering concepts on Laws of Indices. Below are some items that will be used to
navigate the slides. Also please follow all directions given on each page
Left Right
Button button
Home Page Audio
Indices Recap Standard Start here
Fractional Form
(rational
Law) Objectives
Indices Zero
Indices & Power to
Fractional power
Law
Introduction
Indices Indices Indices
Negative Laws 5 Division Indices
Law Law Multiplication
Law
am
Objectives:
at the end students should be able to
• State the meaning of 𝑎𝑚 , where ‘a’ and ‘m’ are rational number.
• Simplify expressions using the laws of indices.
• Evaluate expressions 𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑚 𝑥 𝑏𝑛 where a, b, m, n, are whole numbers,
integers, fractions;
• Write numbers less than, greater than or equal to 10 in standard form.
Introduction
A power, or an index, is used to write a product of numbers very compactly. The plural of index is
indices.
Indices are a useful way of more simply expressing large numbers. They also present us with many
useful properties for manipulating them using what are called the Law of Indices.
• Indices are a convenient tool in mathematics to compactly denote the process of taking a power
or a root of a number. Taking a power is simply a case of repeated multiplication of a number
with itself while taking a root is just equivalent to taking a fractional power of the number.
Therefore, it is important to clearly understand the concept as well as the laws of indices to be
able to apply them later in important applications.
• We will first understand the formal notation for writing a number with an index, followed by the
laws governing it. Also we will be looking at the concept of standard form. So let’s begin!
Power, or indices
We write the expression 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 as 34 which read this as ‘three to the power
four’.
Similarly z × z × z = 𝑧 3 which read this as ‘z to the power three’ or ‘z cubed’.
In the expression 𝑎𝑚 , the index/exponent is ‘m’ and the number ‘a’ is called the
base. Your calculator will probably have a button to evaluate powers of numbers. It
may be marked 𝑥 𝑦 .
Check this, and then use your calculator to verify that 74 = 2401 and 255 = 9765625
Index and base form
Another name for index form is power form
or power notation
Sample
Exercise
Without using a calculator work out the value of
1 1 2
1) 42 , 2) 53 , 3) 25 , 4)( )2 , 5) ( )2 , 6)( )3
2 3 5
Write the following expressions more concisely by using an index.
a) a × a × a × a,
b) b) (yz) × (yz) × (yz),
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
c) c) )( )
𝑏
× )( )
𝑏
× )( )
𝑏
Solution to Exercise
Using 𝑎𝑚
1) 4 x 4 = 16 a) 𝑎4
2) 5 x 5 x 5= 125 b) 𝑦 3 𝑧 3
𝑎3
3) 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 32 c)
𝑏3
1 1 1
4) x =
2 2 4
1 1 1
5) x =
3 3 9
2 2 2 8
6) x x =
5 5 5 125
Video and Questions
You are expected to stop the video
at 1:20 then attempt the questions
that the video instruct you to do.
After which you can continue
playing the video to see the answer
to the questions given.
Index Law 1 – Multiplication law
that is, when we multiply quantities with the same base, we add their indices.
Express each of the following product in index
(a) 24 x 23
(b) 𝑥 3 x 𝑥 5
(c) 𝑥 3 x 𝑦 2 x 𝑦 4 x 𝑥 2
(d) 𝑝2 𝑥𝑞 3 x 𝑟 x 𝑞 4 x 𝑝4 x 𝑟 3
The solutions is on the other page
Solution to – Law 1
(a) 24 𝑥 23 = 24+3 = 27
(b) 𝑥 3 𝑥 𝑥 5 = 𝑥 3+5 = 𝑥 8
(c) 𝑥 3 𝑥 𝑦 2 𝑥 𝑦 4 𝑥 𝑥 2 = 𝑥 3+2 𝑦 2+4 = 𝑥 5 𝑦 6
(d) 𝑝2 𝑥 𝑞 3 𝑥 𝑟 𝑥 𝑞 4 𝑥 𝑝4 𝑥 𝑟 3 = 𝑝2+4 𝑞 3+4 𝑝1+3 = 𝑝6 𝑞 7 𝑟 4
Video and Questions
Please pause the video at 3:20 then answer
the question that are asked after which
continue to see the solution to the
questions.
Index Laws 2 – Division
that is, when we divide quantities with same base, we subtract the denominator index from the numerator
index
OR
Express each of the following quotients in index
(a) 69 ÷ 68
(b) 𝑡 4 𝑔3 ÷ t𝑔2
(c) 𝑏12 ÷ 𝑏 5
(d) 𝑑 5 𝑢3 𝑖 4 ÷ 𝑑3 𝑢2 𝑖
N. B Please try these questions then view the solution below
Solution to Laws 2 – Division
(a) 69 ÷ 68 = 69 −8 = 61 = 6
(b) 𝑡 4 𝑔3 ÷ t𝑔2 = 𝑡 4 −1 𝑔3 −2 = 𝑡 3 𝑔1
(c) 𝑏12 ÷ 𝑏 5 = 𝑏12 −5 = 𝑏 7
(d) 𝑑 5 𝑢3 𝑖 4 ÷ 𝑑3 𝑢2 𝑖 = 𝑑5 −3 𝑢3 −2 𝑖 4 −1 = 𝑑2 𝑢1 𝑖 3
Video and Practice Link
Please pause the video at 4:40 then
answer the question that are asked after
which continue to see the solution to
the questions.
Index Laws 3 – Zero Index
that is, any quantity raised to the zero index is equal to one
Determine the value of each of the following
(a) 30
(b) 𝑣 0
(c) 170
(d) 22 ÷ 22
(e) 𝑛5 ÷ 𝑛5
N.B Please try these before you move to the
next page
Zero Laws Index – Solution
(a) 30 = 1
(b) 𝑣 0 = 1
(c) 170 = 1
2𝑥2
(d) 22 ÷ 22 = 22 −2 = 20 = 1 OR =1
2𝑥2
𝑛𝑥𝑛𝑥𝑛𝑥𝑛𝑥𝑛
(e) 𝑛5 ÷ 𝑛5 = 𝑛5 −5 = 𝑛0 = 1 OR =1
𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 𝑥𝑛
Index Laws 4 - Power to power
that is, when we raise the power of a quantity to a power, we multiply the indices
Simplify each of the following expression leaving
your answer index form .
(a) (42 )7
(b) (𝑚4 )3
(c) (𝑓 3 𝑘 2 )4
5𝑚2
(d) ( 3𝑛3 )3
(e)
(f)
N.B Please try these before you move to the next
page.
Laws 4 – Solution
(a) (42 )7 = 42 𝑥 7 = 414
(b) (𝑚4 )3 = 𝑚4 𝑥 3 = 𝑚12
(c) (𝑓 3 𝑘 2 )4 = 𝑓 3 𝑥 4 𝑘 2 𝑥 4 = 𝑓 12 𝑘 8
5𝑚2 3 51 𝑥 3 𝑚2 𝑥 3 53 𝑚6 125𝑚6
(d) ( 3 ) = 1 𝑥 3 3𝑥 3 = =
3𝑛 3 𝑛 33 𝑛9 27𝑛9
Video and Practice Link
Please answer the questions on the website. Below each question you can check for the solutions
Index Laws 5 -
Please express in index form then find the value.
(a) ( 3 x 5)5
(b) ( D x H)4
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Please try this before you move to the next page.
Solutions to Law 5
(a) ( 3 x 5)5 = ( 3 x 5) x ( 3 x 5) x ( 3 x 5) x ( 3 x 5) x ( 3 x 5)
3x3x3x3x3x5x5x5x5x5
35 𝑥 55
(b) ( D x H)4 = ( D x H ) x (D x H ) x ( D x H ) x ( D x H )
DxDxDxDxHxHxHxH
𝐷4 𝑥 𝐻4
Negative Index Laws
that is, a quantity with a negative index is the inverse (or reciprocal) of the quantity with a positive index
of the same magnitude
Rewrite each of the following expressions using positive
index only;
(i) 9−3 (ii) 𝑤 −5
Rewrite each of the following expressions using negative
index only;
1 1
(1) 75 (2) 𝑎4
Simplify the following
(a) 𝑐 4 ÷ 𝑐 7
(b) 93 ÷ 95
Solution of negative index laws
1 1
(i) 9−3 = (ii) 𝑤 −5 =
93 𝑤5
1 1
(1) = 7−5 (2) = 𝑎−4
75 𝑎4
𝑐𝑥𝑐 𝑥𝑐𝑥𝑐 1
(a) 𝑐 4 ÷ 𝑐 7 = 𝑐 4 −7 = 𝑐 −3 OR = = 𝑐 −3
𝑐𝑥𝑐𝑥𝑐𝑥𝑐𝑥𝑐𝑥𝑐𝑥𝑐 𝑐3
9𝑥9𝑥9 1
(b) 93 ÷ 95 = 93 −5 = 9−2 OR = = 9−2
9𝑥9𝑥9𝑥9𝑥9 92
Video and Practice Link
Fractional Index Laws
Determine the value of each the following
expressions.
16
(a) (25)2
𝑤
(b) ( 𝑦 )3
4𝑎
(c) (5𝑏 )4
Solution to Fractional Index Laws
16 2 16 16 16 𝑥 16 162 256
(a) ( ) = ( ) x ( ) = ( ) = OR
25 25 25 25 𝑥 25 252 625
𝑤 𝑤 𝑤 𝑤𝑥𝑤𝑥𝑤 𝑤3
(b) ( )3 = ( ) x ( ) = ( ) =
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦𝑥 𝑦 𝑦3
4𝑎 4 4𝑎 𝑥 4𝑎 𝑥 4𝑎 𝑥 4𝑎 4 𝑥 4 𝑥 4 𝑥 4 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 44 𝑎4 256𝑎4
(c) ( ) = ( ) = ( ) = =
5𝑏 5𝑏 𝑥 5𝑏 𝑥 5𝑏 𝑥 5𝑏 5 𝑥5 𝑥 5 𝑥 5 𝑥 𝑏 𝑥 𝑏 𝑥 𝑏 𝑥 𝑏 54 𝑏4 625𝑏4
Fractional (Rational Index)
that is, in a quantity with a fractional(or rational index) the denominator is the root and the numerator is the
power to which the quantity is to be raised.
Determine the value of the following
1
(a) 4 2
1
(b) 8 3
2
(c) 8 3
3
(d) 81 4
2
(e) 27 3
9 1
(f) (4)2
Solution to Fractional( Rational Index)
1 1 1
2𝑥
(a) 4 = (
2 2 2 )2 =2 2 = 21 = 2 OR 4 = 22= 2
1 1 1
23 𝑥 3 =
3
(b) 8 = (
3 23 )3 = 21 = 2 OR 23 = 2
2 2 2
23 𝑥 3
3 3 3
(c) 8 = (
3 2 3 )3 = = 22 = 4 OR 82 = 64 = 43 = 4
3 3 3 4
34 𝑥 4
4 3 4
(d) 81 = ( 4 34 )4 = = 33 = 27 OR 813 = (34) = 34 𝑥 3 = 33 = 27
2 2 2
33 𝑥 3
3 3 3
(e) 27 = ( 3 3 3 )3 = = 32 = 9 OR 272 = (33 )2 = 33 𝑥 2 = 32 = 9
1 1 1
2𝑥
9 1 92 (32 )2 3 2 31 3
(f) ( )2 = 1 = 1 = 1 = = OR
4 2𝑥 21 2
42 (22 )2 2 2
Video and Practice Link
Please click on the link below
read and answer the questions
that follows on negative
indices and fractional indices.
https://corbettmaths.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/02/fractio
nal-negative-indices-pdf1.pdf
Solution below
https://corbettmaths.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/03/indices
-pdf.pdf
Recap ( All the Laws of Indices) Harder
examples
Standard Form
Standard Form Video
Standard Form Game – Practice
Click on the link below!! You are allowed to do as many questions as possible.
Please read the instructions carefully before attempting the questions.
https://www.transum.org/software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/Students/Standard
_Form.asp?Level=1
