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This topic covers the laws of indices — multiplying, dividing and raising powers, and zero, negative and fractional indices — to simplify and evaluate expressions. It's a core topic in GCSE and iGCSE Maths with Edexcel and the other major boards. This free interactive eClassroom course walks through each step with worked examples and instant-feedback questions, so you can practise until it's secure.
How you do it
Multiplying powers of the same base adds the indices; dividing subtracts them; raising a power to a power multiplies them. Anything to the power zero is 1. Deal with the numbers in front separately from the letters.
Before you start
Get the four operations and squares and cubes straight before you begin. The same ideas return in standard form, surds and algebraic indices.
What you learn
Indices (or powers) are a quick way to write repeated multiplication. They turn up all over Number and Algebra, so getting the rules solid pays off everywhere. So 2 4 means 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16 — four 2’s multiplied, not 2 × 4. When the base is the same, there are shortcuts. The course works through powers and how to read them, multiplying and dividing powers and power of a power, and the zero rule. Every section has instant-feedback practice questions matched to Edexcel iGCSE 4MA1 and the other major GCSE boards, and the course finishes with full exam-style questions you mark yourself.
Related Topics
Indices is part of the Number strand of our free GCSE maths courses, studied in Foundation tier. You work through 3 concepts and 2 worked examples, testing yourself at 3 points. Nearby topics in the same strand are Order of Operations, Ordering & Place Value, Percentages and Powers & Roots. Endless extra practice on this strand is available on the Number revision engine, which generates a fresh question each time.
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