Indices II

What is Indices II?

The extension of index notation and the index laws from numbers to algebraic expressions and equations. A positive index counts repeated multiplication, a zero index gives one, a negative index denotes a reciprocal and a fractional index denotes a root, with the denominator of the fraction naming the root and the numerator the power. An index equation is solved by rewriting both sides as powers of the same base and then equating the indices; logarithms are not required at this level.

This definition is part of the Algebra and Graphs chapter in Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D).

Concepts related to Indices II

• index laws
• negative index
• fractional index
• common base
• reciprocal