Indices

Question 1

What does to the power of a half do?

x^1/2

Answer 1

Square roots the number,

4^1/2 = 2

Question 2

What does to the power of minus 1 do?

x^-1

(3/4)^1/2 = ?

Answer 2

flips the fraction or makes a number the reciprocal,

1/x

3/4 becomes 4/3

2 becomes 1/2

Question 3

What does to the power of a third do?

x^1/3

Answer 3

Cube roots the number,

8^1/3 = 2

27^1/3 = 3

Question 4

x^a * x^b = x^?

x³ * x² = x^?

Answer 4

x^a * x^b = x^a+b

x³ * x² = x⁵

Question 5

(x^a)^b = x^?

(x²)⁴ = x^?

Answer 5

(x^a)^b = x^a*b

(x²)⁴ = x⁸

Question 6

(x^a)^1/2 = x^?

(x⁴)^1/2 = x^?

Answer 6

(x^a)^1/2 = x^a/2

(x⁴)^1/2 = x²