EXPONENTS, RADICALS AND LOGARITHMS

A. Exponents
When a number a is multiplied by itself n times, the product a .a .aa (n times)
is indicated by the symbol a n which is referred to as the nth power of a or a to
the nth power or a to the nth. We may read a 2 as a squared; a 3 is read a
cubed.
Examples :
1. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2 = 25 = 32
2. (5)(5)(5) (5)3 125
3. 2. x. x. x = 2x 3
4. a. a. a. b. b = a 3b 2
5. (a b)(a b)(a b) (a b)3
In a n , the number a is called the base and the positive integer n is the exponent
(or power or index).
A root of a number is the inverse of power.
Examples :
1.
36 6 since 62 36
2. 3 8 2 since 23 8
3. 6 64 2 since 26 64
General laws of exponents
If m and n are real numbers, the following laws are hold
1. a m a n a m n
Proof
a m a n (a a ... a) ( a a ... a )
1 44 2 4 43 1 44 2 4 43
mtimes

(a a ... a )
= 1 44 2 4 43
=a

m ntimes
m n

2. a : a n a m n
m

ntimes

Proof
am
a :a n
a
a a ... a ( m times )

( n times )
a a ... a
a a ... a (m n times )
=
1
= a m n ; a 0
m

3. ( a m ) n a mn
Proof
(a m ) n a m a m ... a m (n times)
= a m m ... m
= a mn

(n times )

4. ( ab) n a nb n
Proof
(ab) n ab ab ab ... ab (n times)
(a a ... a ) (b b ...)
= 1 44 2 4 43 1 4 2 43
ntimes

ntimes

n n

=ab

5.

an
a

bn
b

Proof
n

a a a
a
a
...
b b b
b
b
=

a a a ... a
b b b ... b

(n times)
(n times)
(n times)

an
bn

Examples:
Simplify
1. m5 m 4 : m3

3.

( y 2 )5 y 3
y4

Solution

Solution

m 5 m 4 : m 3 m 5 4 3

( y 2 )5 y 3 y10 y 5

y4
y4

= m6

2. 5x 3 y 2

y103
y4

y7
y4

= y 74

Solution
2

= y3

(5 x 3 y 2 ) 2 5 ( x 3 ) 2 ( y 2 ) 2
= 52 x32 y 22
= 25x 6 y 4

EXERCISE 1
Simplify
1. a a a
6

2. a 3 a 7

a 2 (b 2 )6
6.
a 4 b9
7. Evaluate

1
3
a 6 b3
when a and b
5
2
9
4
a b

3. (2 x 3 )5 : (2 x 4 ) 2

4.

p 2 ( p3 )4
p9

5.

x6 : x7
x2

8. Evaluate

a 2b 7
2
when a
3
ab
5

5
and b
8

Worksheet 1

Name :
N0.

Simplify (no. 1, 2 and 3)

: .

Class : .

1. 62 82
Solution

6
2
x y

2 3
2. 8 x y :

Solution

3.

xy y 2

x y

Solution

4. Find the value of k which satisfies the equation x a x a 1

Solution

x
a

a 1 a

x k 1

Negative and zero exponents

x0 1

1.

Proof
x n : x n x nn
= x0
xn : xn

xn
xn

=1

x0 1

1
xn

n
2. x

Proof
x 0 x n x 0 n
= xn
x0
x x n
x
0

1
xn

xn

1
xn

Examples
Evaluate as fraction
1. 31

Solution
31

1
3

2. 24
Solution
24

1
24

1
16

2
3.
3

Solution

2

3

1
2

3

1
= 24
34
1
= 16
81
=

81
16

=5

1
16

4. Evaluate
Solution

2,5

 2,5

5. Write x 2

without a negative index

Solution

x 2
6. Write

x 2
1

5 x 1

in index form

Solution
1

5 x 1

5 x 1

Exercises 2

1. Evaluate as a fraction
a. 51

b. 104

2. Evaluate
a. 2

2
b.
3

3. Change into index form

a.

1
m3

b.

3z 4

4. Write without negative indices

a. 2x 3

b. 2 x 1

5. Evaluate

a 2 b 2
a 1 b 1
2

42 9 1
6. Evaluate
. 2
3 6

2
16
( 729
)

7. Given 2 x 2 x 5. Find the value of 22 x 22 x . (23)

Worksheet 2

Name :
No.

Class : .
1. Write without bracket

p2

y p 1

Solution

6
2
x y

2 3
2. Simplify 8 x y :

Solution

a b
3. a b

b a
3

Solution

4. If n is an integer find the value of

Solution

2n 2.6n 4
12n 1

Fractional exponents
1.

1
n

x nx
Proof
1
n

1
n

1
n

1
n

1
n

x 4 x4 42x 4 4
... 43
x x
1
n times

1

= x n n
= x
1

xn n x

2. x n n x m

x
n

Proof
1
n

m
n

x x

=
m
n

.(1)

1
m n

x x
=

x m (2)

By (1) and (2), so

m

x n n xm

x
n

The above results give

x

m
n

xm

x
n

Examples:
1

3. Evaluate 8 3
2

1. Evaluate 27 3
Solution
1
3

Solution
8

27 27
3

23

1
8

2
3

1
3

1
1
1

3 3
4
64
4
4

= 3

4. Simplify

=3

Solution

( x 15) 3
5

( x 15) 6

( x 15) 3
( x 15)
1

2. Evaluate 1000 3
Solution
1000

1
3

1000 3
=

1
1000
1

1
10

103

5
6

45
6

( x 15) 3

85

( x 15) 6
1

= ( x 15) 6 ( x 15) 2 x 15

Exercise 3
1. Evaluate (8) 3
2

2. Simplify ( x 3 ) 3
1

3. Simplify (1) 3
2

4. Evaluate (49) 2
3

5. Evaluate (81) 4
6. Evaluate 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2
3

7. Evaluate (0,125) 3 (0, 25) 2

1

8. Evaluate 4 x 3 3 x 3 2 x 0 when x 8
2

Worksheet 3

Name: ..
No. : ..
Class:
2

1. Evaluate 8 3
Solution

2. Evaluate ( 161 ) 2
Solution

3. Evaluate (1) 5
3

Solution

4. Simplify ( x x y ) 1 ( x x y ) 2
Solution

5. Simplify
Solution

(3a )3 .3a

23

(2a) 2 .a 3

B. Radicals

A radical is an expression of the form a which

denotes the principle nth root of a. The positive
integer n is the index, or order of the radical and
the number a is the radicand. The index is omitted
if n = 2.
n

Thus 5, 7 x 2 y , x 10 are radicals which have

respectively indices 3, 4, 2 and radicands 5,
3

7 x3 2 y 2 , x 10.

Laws for radicals

Laws for radicals are the same as laws for
exponents, since a a . The following are laws
most frequently used. Note: If n is even, assume
n

1
n

a, b 0.

1. a
n

Examples:
a.
3

2.

b.

x2 y 2

x2 y 2

ab n a . n b

Examples:
a.

54 3 27.2 3 33 . 3 2 3 3 2

b.

x5 y 2 7 x5 .7 y 2

3.

a na

b nb

b0

Examples:
a.
4.

5
32

5
5
5
5
5

5
5 5
2
32
2

b.

3
( x 1)3
( x 1)3
x 1

6
6
3
( y 1)
( y 1) 2
( y 1)

a m ( n a )m

Examples:
a.
5.

m n

b.

(27) 4 ( 3 33 ) 4 34 81

(16)3 ( 42 )3 43 64

a mn a

Examples:
a.

7 67

b.

5 4

x 2 20 x 2

Exercise 4
Evaluate the following radical expressions to the
simplest form
1.

18

2.

3.

5 3 243

80

4.

5.

(7 3 4ab ) 2

6.

2a a 2 6a 9

7.

x 25
x 5

8.

9.

64x 7 y 6

a nb 2 n c 3n 1d n 2
256

10.

4 3

11.

x 4 x2

12.

x4 3 x2

6ab 2

Worksheet 4

Name:
No. : .
Class :

Evaluate the following radical expressions to the simplest form

1.

648

Solution

2. a 9b 4 c 3
Solution

3. 12 x 4 36 x 2 y 2 27 y 4
Solution

4.

32 a 3

Solution

The form of a radical may be changed in the

following ways.
a)

Removal of perfect nth power from the radicand.

Examples:

1)

2)

8 x 5 y 7 (4 x 4 y 6 )(2 xy ) 4 x 4 y 6 . 2 xy 2 x 2 y 3 2 xy

32 3 8.4 3 23.4 3 23 . 3 4 2 3 4

b) Reduction of the index of the radical.

Examples:
6
4

3
2

1) 64 2 2 2 2 2 .2
index is reduced from 4 to 2.
4

2) 25 x (5 x )
is reduced
6

3 2

22 . 2 2 2

(5 x 3 ) 6 (5 x 3 ) 3 3 5 x 3 x 3 5 ,

where the

where the index

from 6 to 3.
Note:

(4) 2 4 16 4 24 2

It is incorrect to write
4

2
4

( 4) ( 4) ( 4) 2 4
2

3) Rationalization of the denominator in the radicand.

Examples:

1) Rationalize the denominator of

9
2

To make the denominator 2 a perfect 3 power,

multiplied numerator and denominator by 2 . Then
th

3 9
2

3 9
2

( 222 )
2

2
3 9(2 )
23

36

23

36
2

2) Rationalize the denominator of

7a3 y 2
8b6 x 3

To make 8b6 x3 a perfect 4th power, multiplied the

numerator and denominator by 2b 2 x. Then
4

7a 3 y 2 4 7 a 3 y 2 2b 2 x 4 14a 3 y 2b 2 x 4 14a 3b 2 xy 2

8b6 x 3
8b6 x 3 2b 2 x
16b8 x 4
2b 2 x

A radical is said to be in simplest form if

a) all perfect nth powers have been removed
b) the index of the radical is as small as possible
c) no fractions are present in the radicand, i.e. the denominator has been
rationalized

Exercise 5
1. Express as radicals of the 12th order.
a.

b.

xn

2. Express in terms of radicals of least order

a.

b.

12

8x 3 y 6

3. Convert into entire radicals, i.e. radicals having coefficient 1.

a. 6 3

b. 4x 2 3 y 2

4. Rationalize the denominators

2
3

a.

b.

3
6

5. Rationalize the denominators

a.

3
2 3 4
abc

b.

ab 2
x3 y 5 z 6

Worksheet 5

Name:
No.

: ..

Class : .
ab as a radical of 6th order.

1. Express
Solution

2. Express

a 2 2ab b 2 in term of radical of least order.

Solution

3. Convert

2x 4 2 y
into entire radical.
y
x

Solution

4. Rationalize the denominator of

a b
ab

Solution

[Link] the denominator of

Solution

c
3 ( a b)

To add algebraically two or more radicals

Reduce each radical to simplest form and combine terms with similar radicals.
32

Example:

1
2

8 4 2 12 2 2 2 (4 12 2) 2

3
2

Multiplication of radicals
a) to multiply two or more radicals having the same index.
n

a . n b n ab

Examples.

2 3 4.3 3 16 2.3 3 4. 3 16 6 3 64 6 3 43 6.4 24

(3 4 x 2 y ).( 4 x 3 y 2 ) 3 4 ( x 2 y )( x 3 y 2 ) 3 4 x5 y 3 3 x 4 xy 3

b) to multiply radicals with different indices it is convenient to use fractional

exponents and the laws of exponents.
Examples.

5. 2 5 3.2 2 5 6 .2 6 (52.23 ) 6 (25.8) 6 6 200

3

4. 2 3 22 . 2 2 3 .2 2 2 6 .2 6 2 6 6 27 2 6 2

Division of radicals
n

a) to divide two radicals having the same index, use the law

a na

, and
b
b

simplified.
5 3 5 3 5 32 3 45 3 45

3
3
3 32
33
3
3

Example.

We may also rationalize the denominator directly, as follows.

5 3 5 3 32 3 5.32 3 45

3
3 3
3
3 3 3 3 32
3

b) to divide two radicals with different indices it is convenient to use fractional

exponents and the laws of exponents.

6 6 2 6 4 62 4
62 4 36 4
Examples. 4 1 1 4

18
2
2
2
2 24

4
2
2

4 3
1

4 3 22 2 3 2 6

1 3 26 6 26 6 2
2
2
22 26
1

6
2 2 3 2 6 22
22 6 22 6 33 6 4.27 6 108
1 3 3 6 3
.

6 3 6 3
6 6
3
3
3 32 36 3
3
3
3

Similar radicals
Two or more radicals are said to be similar if after being reduced to simplest form
they have the same index and radicand.
1
1
1 2
2
, 8 are similar since 32 16.2 4 2,

.
,
2
2
2 2
2
8 4.2 2 2. Here each radicand is 2 and each index is 2.

Thus

32,

However,

32 and

2 are dissimilar since

32 3 8.4 3 23.4 2 3 4.

Conjugates
The binomial quadratic surds a b and a b are called conjugates of
each others. So, 2 3 2 and 2 3 2 are conjugates.
To rationalize a fraction whose denominator is a binomial quadratic surds,
multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate.
Example.
5
5
2 3 2
5(2 3 2)
5(2 3 2) 5(2 3 2) 2 3 2

2
2
12 2
10
2
2 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 (2 3) ( 2)

Simplifying the form

Examples. a) Simplify
Solution

a 2 b ;a 2 b 0
62 8

Let x 6 2 8 ; x > 0
x2 6 2 8
(4 2) 2 4.2
4 (2 4.2) 2
4 2 4. 2 2
( 4) 2 2 4. 2 ( 2) 2
( 4 2) 2
x 4 2 2 2
So,

6 2 8 (4 2) 2 4.2 4 2 2 2

b) Simplify

5 24

Solution
By the same way then we have
5 24 5 2 6 (3 2) 2 3.2 3 2

Exercise 6
Evaluate
1. 18 50 72
2.

432 3 250 3

3. 2 7.3 5
4.

3. 3 2

5. 3 14. 4 686

1
32

6. ( 6 3)( 6 2 3)
7. (3 2 2 3 4)(3 2 2 3 4)
8. ( 2 3 5)( 2 3 5)
9. ( 6 3 3 )( 6 3 3 )
10.

11.

10 6
5 2
3 4 2 5 8
2

12.

1 2
1 2

13.

3 3
43 2

14. Write the simple form of

7 2 12

15. Write the simple form of

8 60

Worksheet 6

Name:
No.

Class :
Evaluate (no. 1 to 2)
1.

2 4 30
34 5
Solution

2.

3
5 2
Solution

3. Simplify

x x
1 x x

Solution

4. Simplify
Solution

94 5

C. Logarithms
Definition of logarithms
If a y x , where x is a positive number and a is a positive number different from 1 ,
then the exponent y is the logarithms of x to the base a and is written as y a log x .
Examples: 1) Since 32 9 , then 2 is the logarithm of 9 to the base 3, and written
2 3 log 9 .
2) Since 23 8 , then 3 is the logarithm of 8 to the base 2, and written
3 2 log 8 .
Both a y x and y a log x are equivalent relationships; a y x is called the
exponential form and y a log x the logarithmic form of the relationship. As a
consequence, corresponding to laws of exponents there are laws of logarithms.

Laws of logarithms
If p and q are two positive numbers then the following laws of logarithms are hold
1. a y p y a log p
2. The logarithm of the product of p and q
a

log p.q a log p a log q

3. The logarithm of the quotient of p and q

a

log

p a
log p a log q
q

[Link] logarithm of the nth power of p

log p n n. a log p

log p

log p
log a

5.

6.

log p th power of a

log p. p log q a log q

7.

8.

9.

ap

log p

log b q

q a
. log b
p

log1 0 ; since a 0 1

10. a log a 1 ; since a1 a

11.

log a c c. a log a c

Examples: 1) 3n 9 , then n 3 log 9 3 log 32 2. 3 log 3 2.1 2

2) 2 log 8 2 log 23 3. 2 log 2 3.1 3 .
3) 3 log15 3 log 3.5 3 log 3 3 log 5 1 3 log 5
4) log

10
log10 log 3 1 log 3
3

5) If 3 log 2 p and 2 log 7 q then the value of

14

log 54

log 54 2 log(33.2) 2 log 33 2 log 2 3. 2 log 3 2 log 2

2
2
2
log14 2 log(7.2)
log 7 2 log 2
log 7 2 log 2

3. 1p 1
q 1

3 p
.
p (1 q )

6) If log x 13 log 8 log 9 13 log 27 then

log x log 8 3 log 9 log 27 3 log 2 log 9 log 3

= log

2.9
log 6
3

So, x 6

Exercises 7:
1. Express the exponential form 2 x 16 , in logarithmic form.
2. Find the value of

log

1
.
81

3. Find the value of log p log q log pq

4. Find the value of

1
5

log 625 .

5. Find the value of log1,52 when log1,52 0,1818 .

6. Find the value of 8 log 20 when 3 log 4 a and 3 log 5 b .
7. Find the value of

log 3 when 9 log 8 3m .

log 50 2 log 5
8. Find the value of 2
.
log 6 2 log10 2 log12
2

9. Find the value of 2 log 3. 3 log 25. 5 log 7. 7 log 2

Worksheet 7

Name:
No.

:..

Class :
1. Express the exponential form p q r in logarithmic form.
Solution

2. Express the logarithmic form 5 log 25 2 in exponential form.

Solution

3. Determine the value of the following.

a) 4 log 64

b) log 3 10

Solution

4. Determine the value of x when 3 log x 2 .

Solution

5. Determine the value of 4 log 70 when 4 log 5 p and 4 log 28 q .

Solution

6. Determine the value of b log a . c log b 2 . a log c if a >1, b >1, and b >1.
Solution