Laws of Indices Mr J Frost

Learning Outcomes 5 7 x (4 3 ) 2

3636

3636 “base” “exponent” or “power” “power”

3 6 x 3 2

Rule #1 If we multiply two powers with the same base, we add their exponents. a b x a c = a b+c

Rule #2 If we divide two powers with the same base, we subtract the second exponent from the first. a b / a c = a b-c

(4 3 ) 4

Rule #3 If we raise a power to a power, we multiply the two exponents. (a b ) c = a b x c

Example Questions

Group Challenges a b x a c = a b+c (a b ) c = a b x c a b / a c = a b-c

Group Challenges 4 2 = 2 x x = 4 0 x = 5 -1 x =