Indices and Surds

Index:
We know, a . a . a. a . ……………………. n times = a n

Here ‘n’ is called the index or power of base ‘a’.

Note: a0 = 1, and a1 = a

Eg. 25 = 2 . 2 . 2 . 2 . 2, 34 = 3 . 3 . 3. 3, 44 = 4 . 4 . 4 . 4

Laws of Indices:

i) am . an = am+n

ii) am ÷ an = am – n

iii) (am)n = amn = (an)m

Laws of Indices:

iv) (ab)m = am bm

v) (a / b)m = am / bm

vi) 1 / am = a-m ; a ≠ 0

vii) ax = ay, iff x = y (a ≠ 0)

viii) ax = bx, iff a = b (x ≠ 0)

 Fractional Index

2 1
X1/2 =
x
Xp/q = q p
x
 m 2 n 3m  8 n
Simplify x .x
5m 6n
x
 m 2 n 3m  8 n
x .x
5m 6n
x
m  2 n 3 m  8 n
x
 5m 6n
x
x 4m 6n
 5m 6n
x
 x ( 4 m 6 n ) (5m 6 n )
 m
 x
 Show that

3.2 n 1  2 n
n 2 n 1
2
2  2
3.2 n.2  2 n
 n 2 n 1
2
2 .2  ( 2 .2 )
2 n (6  1)
 n
2
2 ( 4  1 / 2)
7
 2
7
2

 7 2 7 2
 2 2
 Show that

a 2  ab b 2 b 2 bc c 2 c 2 ca  a 2
x 
a
x 
b
x 
c
 b    c    a 
x  x  x 
1
 Show that

1 1
n m
 m n
1
1 a 1 a
 1 1
n m
 m n
1 a 1 a
1 1
 n  am
1  am
a
1  an
1 1
 a m
a n  a n a m
am an
m n
a a
 m n
 m
a a a  an
m n
a a
 m n
a a
 1
If 2x=3y=(12)z, show that

1 1 2
 
z y x
 x y z
Let 2 3 (12) k
1/ x 1/ y 1/ z
 2 k ; 3 k ; 12 k
We know, 12 2 2 3
1/ z 1/ x 1/ x 1/ y
 k k k k
1 2 1
  
z x y
If ax=(a/k)y=km, show that

1 1 1
 
m x y
 x m x/m
a k ;  k a
y
a m
Again,   k
k
y
a m y m y
 y
k ;  a k .k
k
 a y
a  x/m
 .a
m x/m

y

 a y a x a xy / m
xy
 y x  m

 my mx  xy

 1 1 1 22
  
If 2x=4y=8z and 2x 4y 8z 7
show that

7 7 7
x , y z
16 32 48
If ax=by=cz=dw, and ab=cd, show that

1 1 1 1
  
x y z w
 Let, ax=by=cz=dw = k

1/ x 1/ y 1/ z
 a k , b k , c k
1/ w
d k
 ab cd 
 1 2

If x 2 3
2 3
, show that

x3-6x=6
 Surds

A surd is defined as the irrational root of a rational number,

n
e.g.
a
Where it is not possible to extract exactly the nth root of a.

n
In other words, a real number a is called a surd if and only if
(i) it is an irrational number, and
(ii) it is a root of a rational number.

In the surd , the index n is called the order of the surd and ‘a’
the radicand.n a
√3 is a surd, it is an irrational root of the
rational number 3 .
3 5
5, 8 are surds

But 3
8, 4
16 are not surds.

Similarly, 3 3  5 is not surd.

Mixed Surd: having coefficient other than  1 .

Entire Surd: having no coefficient (other than 1).
 Operation on Suds
n
(i)
n
a . n
b= ab
n
a a
n
(ii) n
b = b

mn
m n
a a n m
a
(iii) = =
m b mn bn
a  a
(iv)
m n m
( a)  a
n
Similar surds: Two surds are similar if they can
be reduced to same irrational factors.
E.g. 48 and 147 are similar surds , because
they can be put as 4 3 and 7 3 .
 Rationalizing Factor

a x . x = ax
Rationalize
7 3 5 2
48  18
7 3 5 2 48  18
 
48  18 48  18
(7 3  5 2 ) (4 3  3 2 )

48  18
7 3 (4 3  3 2 )  5 2 (4 3  3 2 )

30
Cont’d
7 3 (4 3  3 2 )  5 2 (4 3  3 2 )

30
84  21 6  20 6  30

30
114  41 6

30
 Properties of Bi-quadratic Surds

I. If a  b x  y or a  b x  y
then, a = x and b = y.

II. If a b  c then, b = 0 and

III. If a  b  x  y then, a b  x y
 Root of a Mixed Surd

14 + 6√5