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Year 8 · Patterns & Algebra

Index laws

A power like 2³ means 2 × 2 × 2. The small number is the index.

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How to do it

  1. Multiplying powers of the same base: add the indices.
  2. Dividing: subtract the indices.
  3. A power of a power: multiply the indices. Anything to the power 0 is 1.

Worked example

What is 5 × 2⁰?
Anything to the power 0 is 1, so 5 × 2⁰ = 5 × 1 = 5.
Answer: 5

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The base must be the same for these rules.

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