Indices, Surd and Logarithms

4.1  Laws of Indices

 
Indices:

∙ a0 = 1

1
∙ a−m = ,a
=0
am
​ ​

​ ​

1
∙ a =
n ​ n
a ​

m
∙ a n = ( n a )m
​

 
Law of indices:

∙ (am )n = amn

∙ am × an = am+n

∙ am ÷ an = am−n
​ ​

∙ (ab)n = an × bn

a n an
∙ ( ) = n, b
=0
b b
​ ​ ​

 
 

4.2  Laws of Surds

 
a
■ Rational numbers are the numbers that can be expressed in fractional form ​where a and b are integers and b =
 0.
​

b
 
■ Irrational numbers are the numbers that cannot be expressed in fractional form.
 
Below are some examples:
 
Rational number Irrational number
3
−3 = − π = 3.14159265...
1
​

1
e = 2.71828182...(Euler number)
3
​

7
1.75 =  (terminating decimal) φ = 1.61803398 (golden ratio)
4
​

111
0.555... = (recurring decimal) 3 = 1.732050808...
200
​ ​

3
25 = 5 ​ 9 = 2.080083823
​

 
From the examples, root of a number can be either rational or irrational.

An irrational number in the form of root is called surd.

 
3
9 is read as "surd 9 order 3".
​

 
Laws of surds:

 
∙ a× ​ b= ​ ab ​

​ ​

a
∙ a÷ b=
b
​ ​ ​ ​

for a > 0 and b > 0.

 
Conjugate surd of a + b is a −
​ b , similarly a −
​ b is a +
​ b.
​

A rational number is obtained when the conjugate pair is multiplied.

(a + b )(a − ​ b ) = a2 − b.
​

 
To simplify an expression involving surd as denominator, rationalising the denominator by multiplying the numerator and denominator
with conjugate surd.

For example,

 
1 m a
∙ ×
​

​ ​

m a ​ m a ​

1 m a−n b
∙ ×
​ ​

m a+n b m a−n b
​ ​

​ ​

​ ​ ​ ​

1 m a+n b
∙ ×
​ ​

m a−n b m a+n b
​ ​

​ ​ ​ ​

 
 

4.3  Laws of Logarithms

 
Equation in the form of index and logarithm:
 
N = ax ⟺ loga N = x ​

 
where a > 0, a =
 1. ​

 
Logarithms:
 
∙ loga ax = x
​

​
∙ loga 1 = 0
​

∙ loga a = 1
​

 
The diagram shows the graphs of exponential and logarithmic functions.
 
 
We can see that the exponential and logarithmic functions are reflection of one another in the straight line y = x.

The exponential and logarithmic functions are inverse functions of one another.

 
The logarithms of negative numbers and of zero are undefined.
 
Law of logarithms:
 
∙ loga xy = loga x + loga y
​ ​ ​

x
∙ loga ​ ​= loga x − loga y ​ ​

y ​

∙ loga xn = n loga x
​ ​

 
for any real number n

where a, x and y  are positive numbers and a  1.

=
​

 
Change of base of logarithms:
 
logc b
∙ loga b =
​

logc a
​ ​

​ ​

1
∙ loga b =
logb a
​ ​

 
where a, b and c are positive numbers, a  1 and c =
=  1.
​

 
lg = log10 (common logarithms) and ln = loge (natural logarithms) where e is a constant.
​ ​
 Chapter : Indices, Surds and Logarithms
Topic : Laws of Indices
Form 4
Additional Mathematics

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