Indices - Brackets and Indices

When an indice is inside brackets and is raised to a power, it can be expanded to find the
solution.
Example Write (25)3 without the brackets. Example Write (x4)2 without the brackets.

(25)3 = 25 × 25 × 25 = 215 (x4)2 = x4 × x4 = x8

This sheet starts with asking you to write expressions in expanded form and then solve them,
just like the examples above. Then the rule below is used, where you multiply the powers.
Rule: When you expand bracketed indices, you multiply the powers.

(am)n = am×n

Here are is an example, applying the above rule:

Example Expand and simplify (x5)2.

(x5)2 = x5×2 = x10

The bracketed term may include a coefficient as well. A coefficient is a number in front of the
algebraic base. When there is a coefficient, the power outside the brackets is applied to the
coefficient, you just slide it across.

Example Expand and simplify (3x5)2.

(3x5)2 = 32x5×2 = 9x10

 Indices - Brackets and Indices (Sheet 2)
© FREEFALL MATHEMATICS - FREEFALL MATHEMATICS VELOCITY BOOK 3 - LICENSED FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY - ISBN 978-0-9925361-0-7

Rewrite these without the These include co-efficients 1 2 These are two step questions.
brackets. (numbers out front). Expand Expand and simplify these.
these, calculator required.
Example (5v4)3 = 125v12 Example
Example (5v4x2)3 = 125v12x6
53 = 125 3 × 4 = 12 (v3x)3 v9x3 v
19 (3me ) = 5 2 = =
5 5 (v2x2)4 v8x8 x5
1 (4g ) =
Expand Simplify
2 4
20 (5w3x2)3 =
2 (3n ) =
21 (2r2d 2)8 = 29
7 3
3 (2j ) =
(a5b2)4 a b
10 2
22 (3q6e 4)4 = = =
4 (10c ) = (a2b3)2 a b
4 9
23 (4q5xk4)5 =
5 (2b ) =
30
24 (10x2ny 3)3 =
6 (5g6)4 = (n2a3)2 n a
Find the area of these squares. = =
7 (10m2)3 = (n3a2)3 n a
25
8 (9x3)4 = A = l2 31
9 (2h8)12 = = (3a)2 (yx4)3
= =
6 5 2 (y2x2)2
10 (10u ) = A= units
3a
Multiple bases look harder but 32
the process is the same, no 2
2b
calculator required. Expand. 26 (v5c4)2
= =
Example (ab4c2)5 = a5b20c10 A = l2 (v3c2)3
1×5=5 Now multiplication
4 × 5 = 20 2 × 5 = 10
= (2b2)2
Example (x2b)3 × (x4b2)2
2
A= units
11 (x3y2)4 = = x6b3 × x8b4 Expand

6 2 3 27 = x14b7 Simplify
12 (a k ) = 2
A=l
3 5 33 (x3y2)4 × (xy5)2
13 (a b) = =
= =
3 6 2 2
14 (g n ) = A= units
a2b3 34 (b2k)3 × (b2k 2)4
15 (c10e2)8 = 3x2y = =
28
16 (abc)3 = 35 (u6v3)2 × (uv2)3
= =
17 (a4b2c)5 =
36 (a2h3)5 × (2h2)2
18 (a2bc3)7 =
= =
 Indices - The Zero Index
When a number or a term (letter) is raised to a power of zero, the answer is 1. Note that this
doesn’t apply to zero itself, the answer for 00 is undefined.
Rule: When you raise a number or letter to the power of 0. the answer is 1.

a0 = 1 a ≠0

Here are some examples of this rule.

Example Evaluate x0. Example Evaluate 20. Example Evaluate (2x)0.

x0 = 1 20 = 1 (2x)0 = 1

Here are some examples where working out can be shown.

Example Evaluate 2x0. Example Evaluate (23)0. Example Evaluate 2x0 + 8.

2x0 = 2 × 1 (2n0)4 = (2 × 1)4 2x0 + 8 = 2 × 1 + 8

= 2 = 24 = 16 = 10

The first sheet starts with showing you how to see how a power of zero can equal 1. After this
questions involving the zero index begin. Remember the questions are best solved by replacing
everything with a zero power to the number ‘1’. You can strike out the term and write ‘1’
above it if that makes it easier to work with.
 Indices - The Zero Index (Sheet 2)
© FREEFALL MATHEMATICS - FREEFALL MATHEMATICS VELOCITY BOOK 3 - LICENSED FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY - ISBN 978-0-9925361-0-7

Anything (except 0) with the T F Answer true or false to These will result in an algebraic
power of zero is 1. Evaluate. these. answer. Simplify these.

Example 5m0 + 7 True Example 2m0b

0
17 2 = 2
False = 2 × 1 × b = 2b
= 5 × 1 + 7 = 12
True
18 5x0 = (5x)0 23 2v0h2=
0 False
1 2v = × =
True
0 19 3b0 = b0 + 2 24 a0b2c3 =
2 8h = × = False

0 0 0 True 25 (m6)0 × m =
3 h +7= = 20 4a - 4 = a
False
26 9k2 × e0 =
4 7h0 - 4 = = 0
21 3g - (3g) = 2g 0 0 True
False
5 2 =0
6 x = 0 27 4a0m2 - m2a0
True
22 5k0 + 4 = 9k0 =
False
7 2x0 = = =
Complete the tables.
8 2x0 + 2 = × + 28 Replace terms that have
a power of 0 with a ‘1’,
= e0 3e0 e0x2 before you multiply.

2x 29
9 x0 × 2x0 = × ×
e0 a2 a2b ab2 (a2)0
=
e2 a0
10 n0 = 11 40 = 3x2 5a

12 4n0 = = ex2 a0b

13 (4n)0 = Evaluate these and then arrange them in ascending

order, that is from the smallest to largest.

14 4n0 + 4 = × + 30 5e0, e0 + 9, (3e0)2, 8e0 - 6.

2
15 (n0 + 4)2 = ( + )
Rewrite the algebraic expressions in ascending order, not the numbers you have calculated
2
= =
31 10 - n0, (2n0)3, 4n0, 12 ÷ n0.
16 4n0 + (4n)0 = × +

=
 Indices - Substitution
Substitution means that you swap the letters in an algebraic expression or formula, for
numbers. Because this topic is indices, these substitutions all have powers in the expressions.

Some examples of this.

Example Evaluate 2x2 when x= 6.

Replace the x with 6. Note that there is a
×. When numbers/letters are beside each
2x2 = 2 × 62 other then they are multiplied.

= 72 Use your calculator to solve.

Example Evaluate 2y3 - 8y, when y = 4.

2y3 - 8y = 2 × 43 - 8 × 4
= 96

Example Evaluate 2y3 - 8y, when y = -6.

2y3 - 8y = 2 × (-6)3 - 8 × (-6)

= -384 When you have a negative number to
substitute, always put the number in
brackets.

Example Evaluate ay3 - a2y, when a = 3 and y = 4.

ay3 - a2y = 3 × 43 - 32 × 4
= 156 You can also have two
numbers to substitute

The second page of these worksheets is the plotting of an indice. These are to the power of 2,
and the curve they make is called a parabola. Notice what a negative sign and a number in
front of the x2 term does.
 Indices - Substitution (Sheet 1)
© FREEFALL MATHEMATICS - FREEFALL MATHEMATICS VELOCITY BOOK 3 - LICENSED FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY - ISBN 978-0-9925361-0-7

Use your calculator to evaluate Evaluate these using a = 4 and A table of values is often used
these when a = 5. x = 3. to construct a graph. Complete
these tables.
Example a3 = 53 = 125
3
14 ax2 = × = 20 b = a2 + 2
Calc: 5 x =
4 a 0 1 2 3 4 5
1 a4 = 5 = 15 a2 + x2 = + =
b
3
2 2a = × = 16 a2 - x2 = - = Calc: 1 x2 + 2 =
Calc: 0 x2 + 2 =
3 3a3 + 7 = × + 2
17 ax + ax =
21 y = 2x2 + 5
=
= x 0 1 2 3 4 5
2
4 3a + 7a =
18 20x2 ÷ a2 = y

=
= 22 y = -3x2 - 7
Evaluate these using n = 8.
* 20x5 x 0 1 2 3 4 5
3 19 = =
5 n - 10 = = ax y

6 4n2 - n = * Brackets required

A frequent use of substitution is using a formula, such as with science.
= Substitute the values into the formulae to solve these questions.

Calc:
7 -n2 = = 2 The surface area of a cube is found using SA = 6l 2. Find the SA:
- 8x =
23 When l = 15. 24 When l = 30. 25 When l = 8.
8 (-n)2 = =
SA = 6l 2
Calc: ( - 8 ) x2 =
2
Evaluate these using y = -3. = 6×
Make sure you use brackets.
2
SA = u2
9 y - 12 = =
2 Power loss in a wire is found using P = I 2R. Find the loss, when:
Calc: ( - 3 ) x - 1 2=
26 I = 2 and R = 0.5 27 I = 10 and R = 6. 28 I = 8 and R = 3.
3
10 20 - y = = P = I 2R
2

11 3y = 4
= = ×
P= W
2
12 4y + 3y =
Kinetic Energy is found using KE = ½mv2. Find the energy, when:
= 29 m = 80, v = 15. 30 m = 65, v = 18. 31 m = 90, v = 25.
1
KE = mv2
13 4y2 × 3y = 2
1 2
= 2
× ×
=
KE = J
 Indices - Substitution (Sheet 2)
© FREEFALL MATHEMATICS - FREEFALL MATHEMATICS VELOCITY BOOK 3 - LICENSED FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY - ISBN 978-0-9925361-0-7

Complete the tables and then plot the points on the 3 y = -x2 + 6
number plane below them.
x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
1 y = x2 - 4
y -10
x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Calc: - ( - 4 ) x2 + 6 =
y 12

2 Use the replay key to change 4 y = -2x2 + 6 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Calc: ( - 4 ) x - 4=
‘-4’ to ‘-3’ and so on.
y -12
2
2 y = 2x - 4 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Calc: - 2 × ( - 3 ) x2 + 6 =
y 14
y
2
Calc: 2 × ( - 3 ) x - 4 =
7

y 6

15 5

14 4

13 3

12 2

11 1

10 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x
9 -1

8 -2

7 -3

6 -4

5 -5

4 -6

3 -7

2 -8

1 -9

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x -10

-1 -11

-2 -12

-3 -13

-4

-5
Indices - Topic Review Page 1
© FREEFALL MATHEMATICS - FREEFALL MATHEMATICS VELOCITY BOOK 3 - LICENSED FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY - ISBN 978-0-9925361-0-7

Use your power key to evaluate Multiply these indices p9 u5

these indices. 35 = 36 =
p2 u2
20 ae × a =
1 84 = 2 29 =
These require ‘1 over’ answers.
21 xy2 × x2 =
3 5-1 = 4 90 = n2 v4
37 4 = 38 5 =
Decimal 22 n3p2 × n4p2 = n v
Write these indices in expanded form
23 a3b2c × a2c = a g3
39 5 = 40 6 =
5 e3 = a g
21 w3n3e2 × w4ne5 =
6 54 = These include coefficients. Multiply. n2 c5
41 = 42 =
2n5 5c5
7 n6 = 22 6n2 × n =
These divisions can be simplified.
3 3
Write the indice that has a: 22 3a × a =
4x2 3e4
8 Base ‘a’ and an index of ‘5’ 22 t × 9t 5 43 = 44 =
= 2x5 9e
=
22 d 2 × 7d 2 =
9 Index of ‘4’ and a base ‘m’ 6x 5u5
45 = 46 =
23 b2 × 4c2b = 8x 10u3
=

10 Index of ‘0’ and a base ‘5’ 24 3ab × ba2 = 6y7 6n4

47 = 48 =
= 4y2 2n
25 y2 × 7a3y =
Multiply these indices Multiply first then divide.
26 2p3d 2 × 3p =
11 c2 × c3 = a2 × a3
27 4yu2 × 2u = 49 = =
a
12 a × a5 =
28 6h7v4 × 5h2 = h4 × h
4 2
13 b × b = 50 = =
2 h7
29 5ac × 2ac =
7 5
14 2 × 2 =
Leave as indice 30 2u3v2 × 6uv4 = k3 × k2
51 = =
k × k4
15 n5 × n × n2 = 31 4e4k × 3e2k3 =
3a2 × a
16 5 × 53 × 52 = Divide these indices. 52 = =
Leave as indice
a3 × 4a3
32 u4 ÷ u2 =
5 3
17 k × k × k = 4g3 × g4
33 a5 ÷ a = 53 = =
3 0 2 g × 2g2
18 e × e × e =
0
34 75 ÷ 72 = 2n × 3n5
19 n× n × n = Leave as indice 54 = =
6n3 × n3
Indices - Topic Review Page 2
© FREEFALL MATHEMATICS - FREEFALL MATHEMATICS VELOCITY BOOK 3 - LICENSED FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY - ISBN 978-0-9925361-0-7

Simplify these. Simplify these. Evaluate these.

55 (d 4)2 = 56 (x2)6 = 70 (m3)4 × (m2)3 = × 85 2v0 = × =

57 (g3)5 = 58 (h2)6 = = 86 h0 + 7 = + =

59 (2n3)2 = 2 5 3 2 4 87 2a0 + 3 =
71 (ac ) × (a c )
60 (3k5)2 = = × 88 3q0 + 5 =

Simplify these. Calculator required. = Evaluate, given a = 6.

61 (5m3)4 = 72 (2x3y2)3 × (3xy2)2 89 a2= =

62 (2d)9 = = ×
90 a3 + 8 =
=
6 3
63 (8a ) = 91 3a3 ÷ 12 =
Simplify these.
Simplify these. =
5 4 2
73 (e k )
3 4 = =
64 (xv ) = (e2k)3
92 5a4 + 7a2 =
65 (q2w3)3 = (a3n4)3
74 = =
(a5n)2
66 (3gk3)3 = Evaluate, given x = 2 and y = -3 .
Simplify these, involving zero index.
67 (2e5c3)5 = 3
93 x2y =
a
75 = =
a3 94 xy2 =
Find the area of these.
76 h5 ÷ h5 = =
68 A = l2 95 a7 + 7y =
v11
77 = =
=
2 v11 =

2 78 b3 × b0 =
A= units Complete the tables.
5 0
2b 79 y × y =
96 y = x2 + 5
80 ( b0)3 = = x 0 1 2 3 4 5
69
y
81 ( v0)4 = =

82 ( q2)0 = = 97 y = 2x2 - 10
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
2
83 (2c4)0 =
5jx y
84 (2a0k2)2 =