Theory of Indices

The 3 laws of indices for positive integers :

  1. am x an = am+n
  2. am ÷ an = am-n     [m>n]
  3. (am)n = amn

The law of index for zero (0) :

20 = 21 ÷ 21     [by law of indices for positive integer]
        21 ÷ 21 = 1
        \ 20 = 1

In general :

a0 = a1 ÷ a1     [by law of indices for positive integer]
     = an ÷ an = 1
       \ a0 = 1


The law of index for negative integers :

2-1 = 20 ÷ 21     [by law of indices for positive integer]
      = 1 ÷ 2 = ½
        \ 2-1 = ½

In the same way

The law of index for fractions :

4½ = ?
          4½ x 4½ = 41
          \ (4½)2 = 4      [by law of indices for positive integer]
            \ Ö4 = 4½

= ?
          x x = 8
          \ ()3 = 8      [by law of indices for positive integer]
            \ =

In general :

\

\

= ?or =
         ()2    [by law of indices for positive integer]            [by law of indices for positive integer]
         = 22         =
         = 4         = 4
In general :

or