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Index

Topic Overview

The index of a number says how many times to use in a multiplication. it is written as a small number to the right and above the base number
The plural of index is indices
(other names for index are exponent or power)

Positive Exponents

Positive Exponents is nothing but the power of a number is to be positive.
Example:
52 = 5*5*5 = 125
24 = 2*2*2*2 = 16
you can multiply any number by itself, as many as you want using exponents. [exponent] make it easier to write
84 is easier to write and to read than 8*8*8*8

In General

an tells you to multiply a by itself so there are n of those a’s:

Negative Exponents

A Negative Exponent is nothing but the power of a number is to be, what could the opposite of multiply?      Dividing.
A Negative exponent means how many times to divide one by the number
Example
4-1 =1÷4 = 0.25
you can have many divides
5-3 = 1÷5÷5÷5 =0.008
5-3 could also be calculated like
5-3 = 1÷(5*5*5) =1/53 = 1/125 = 0.008

In General

a-n =1/an
calculate the positive exponent (an)

more example: 

(-2)-3 = 1/(-2)3 = 1/(-8) = -0.125
the plural of index is INDICES this will be my next topic.
use the comment box for you questions

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