Indices

Question 1

What is an indices?

Answer 1

These are powers. E.g. squared and cubed

An indices tells you how many times the number is being multiplied by itself.

Question 2

What happens if the power is zero?

Answer 2

This equals 1 no matter what the number is.

7890 to the power 0 = 1

Question 3

What happens if the power is negative?

Answer 3

If the power is negative then the number must become its reciprocal
E.g 2 ^-2 = 1/2^2 or 1/4 = 0.25
Note that the answer does not become negative only smaller and smaller

Question 4

What happens if the indices is 1/2?

Answer 4

This is the same as square rooting the number

E.g. 36^1\2 = 6

Question 5

What happens if the indices is 1/3?

Answer 5

This is the same as cube rooting the number.

E.g 8^1\3 = 2

Question 6

What is the answer to

A^5 x A^6?

Answer 6

A^11

The powers add when the same number/letter is multiplied

Question 7

What is the answer to

F^4 / F^3?

Answer 7

F^1 or just F

When we divide the powers minus if the number/letter is the same.

Question 8

What happens if the indices is a fraction and it’s not a unit fraction e.g. its 2/3?

Answer 8

2/3 = 2 x 1/3
So first we would square and then cube root.

The numerator is carried out like a normal power and the denominator roots that number to whatever power required.

Question 9

Why use standard form?

Answer 9

It helps us write really small/large numbers quicker. It helps us to compare numbers easier too.