indices

Introduction

we will be looking at indices or powers. Either name can be used, and both names mean the same thing.

Basically, they are a shorthand way of writing multiplications of the same number. So, suppose we have

              4 × 4 × 4  

We write this as ‘4 to the power 3’ : 4^3

     So 4 × 4 × 4 = 4^3

The number 3 is called the power or index. Note that the plural of index is indices.

NOTE: An index, or power, is used to show that a quantity is repeatedly multiplied by itself.

An index, or power, is used to show that a quantity is repeatedly multiplied by itself.