Chapter 1

Indices

Powers and the laws of indices for multiplying, dividing and raising powers — with an interactive exercise.

Indices (powers) are a short way of writing repeated multiplication: $2^3 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 = 8$.

Laws of indices

$a^m \times a^n = a^{m+n}$ · $a^m \div a^n = a^{m-n}$ · $(a^m)^n = a^{mn}$ · $a^0 = 1$

Example: $2^3 \times 2^2 = 2^5 = 32$.

Remember

  • Multiply → add the powers; divide → subtract.
  • Any number to the power 0 is 1.

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