MA09-05 Maths Coming soon
Laws of Indices for Algebraic Terms
MA09-05
This lesson is coming soon.
In this lesson
Simplify a product or quotient of algebraic terms with powers by adding or subtracting the exponents, handling any numeric coefficient with the separate ordinary arithmetic rule.
What it covers
- A^m x a^n = a^(m+n): add the exponents when multiplying matching-base powers
- A^m / a^n = a^(m-n): subtract the exponents when dividing matching-base powers
- Apply this to a product or quotient that also has a numeric coefficient, handling the coefficient with ordinary multiplication/division separately from the exponent rule
- Combine exponents that are already given as negative numbers within a product or quotient, adding/subtracting them as signed numbers, without needing to interpret what a negative power equals
Key words
For: AQA GCSE 8300, Edexcel GCSE 1MA1, Eduqas GCSE C300, Edexcel IGCSE 4MA1, OCR GCSE J560, Cambridge IGCSE 0580
On the specification
| Board | Spec | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| AQA GCSE 8300 | A4 | Notation, vocabulary and manipulation |
| Edexcel GCSE 1MA1 | A4 | Notation, vocabulary and manipulation |
| Eduqas GCSE C300 | FA4 | Simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions (including those involving surds) by: collecting like terms; multiplying a single term over a bracket; taking out common factors; expanding products of two binomials; factorising quadratic expressions of the form x² + bx + c, including the difference of two squares; simplifying expressions involving sums, products and powers, including the laws of indices |
| Eduqas GCSE C300 | HA4 | Simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions (including those involving surds and algebraic fractions) by: collecting like terms; multiplying a single term over a bracket; taking out common factors; expanding products of two or more binomials; factorising quadratic expressions of the form x² + bx + c, including the difference of two squares; factorising quadratic expressions of the form ax² + bx + c; completing the square; simplifying expressions involving sums, products and powers, including the laws of indices |
| Edexcel IGCSE 4MA1 | F2.1D | Use index laws in simple cases |
| OCR GCSE J560 | 6.01c | Simplify algebraic products and quotients. |
| Cambridge IGCSE 0580 | C2.4 | Understand and use indices (positive, zero and negative). |
| Cambridge IGCSE 0580 | E2.4 | Understand and use indices (positive, zero, negative and fractional). |
For teachers
This GCSE Maths lesson teaches laws of indices for algebraic terms. By the end, students should be able to simplify a product or quotient of algebraic terms with powers by adding or subtracting the exponents, handling any numeric coefficient with the separate ordinary arithmetic rule. It works through three worked examples and the mistakes examiners report.