GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Worksheet

Skill
Group A - Simplifying Powers using laws of indices
Simplify these without using a calculator. Leave your answers in index form.

2 3 3 4 3 −1
1) 2 × 2 2) 5 × 5 3) 6 × 6
13 8 2 2 2
4) 11 ÷ 11 5) 8 ÷ 8 6) 15 ÷ 15
2 3 5 −1 3 −4
7) (5 ) 8) (3 ) 9) (6 )
2 2
3 3 2 4
10) ( 5 ) 11) (
5
) 12) ( )
4 7 2

Group B - Calculating an unknown power

Fill in the missing value 𝑥 to make each equation true.

2 𝑥 5 3 6 𝑥 10 𝑥 5
1) 2 × 2 = 2 2) 20 × 20 = 20 3) 14 × 14 = 14
5 𝑥 3 10 𝑥 𝑥 10 12
4) 16 ÷ 16 = 16 5) 10 ÷ 10 = 1 6) 13 ÷ 13 = 13
5 2 𝑥 𝑥 3 6 4 𝑥 −4
7) (17 ) = 17 8) (12 ) = 12 9) (10 ) = 10
8 10 𝑥
8 𝑥 16 15 10 2 −8
10) ( 4 ) = 8 11) ( 𝑥 ) = 16 12) ( 3 ) = 10
8 16 10

Group C - Simplifying powers including negatives and fractions

Simplify each expression. Write your answer in index form.

5 4 3 2 2 4 −2
1) 3 × 3 × 3 2) 2 × 2 × 2 3) 8 × 8 × 8
5 2 3 −1 −2 3
4) 3 × 3 ÷ 3 5) 7 × 7 ÷7 6) 4 ÷ 4 ÷ 4
3 2 5 3 4 1
1
7) 9 × (9 ) 8) 10 × ( 10 ) 5
9) 2 ÷ (2 )
2 2

2 6 2
7 3 7 −3 9
10) 3 × ( 5 ) 11) 7 × ( 10 ) 12) 9 ÷( −9 )
3 7 9

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Worksheet

Applied

1) 𝑛
Below are the graphs of two functions 𝑦 = 2 and 𝑦 = 3 for − 4 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 4
𝑛

(a) Use the graph to solve 2𝑛 = 3𝑛 for − 4 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 4.

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(b) Josie says “2 × 3 = 6 ”. Is she correct? Explain your answer.

2) (a) Which of the expressions below are equal to 1? Circle all that apply.

2 3
3 −3 1 −1 2 5 ×5 5 3 −8
4 ×4 ( 2
) ( 2) 5 (𝑝 + 𝑝 )
5

(b) What power of 𝑥 would make the following expression true:

4 10
2 ×2
𝑥 = 32
2

3) (a) Simplify (43)4.

(b) Express part (a) as a power of 2.

1
4) (a) Given that 𝑎 = , express 𝑎 as a single power of 5.
5

(b) Calculate 𝑎 × 5 2 .

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GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Exam Questions

1) (a) 3
Simplify 12𝑥 ÷ 3𝑥
5

….……………
(2)

(b) −3
Evaluate 5 . Write your answer as a fraction.

….……………
(1)
(3 marks)

2) (a) 2 4
Show that 4 = 2 using laws of indices.

….……………
(1)

(b) 𝑥
Let 𝑥 ≥ 0. State 3 more values of 𝑥 where 2 is a power of 4.

….……………
(1)
(2 marks)

3) (a) Calculate the value of (1002 ÷ 103)3.

Express your answer as a power of 10.

….……………
(2)

(b) Calculate (3 × 104) × (4 × 10−1).Write your answer in

standard form.

….……………
(2)
(4 marks)

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Exam Questions

1
4 −2
4) (a) Evaluate ( 25
)

….……………
(2)
2
27
(b) Let 𝑥 = 64
. Calculate 𝑥 .
3

….……………
(2)
(4 marks)

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GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Answers

Question Answer

Skill Questions

Group A Simplify these without using a calculator.

Leave your answers in index form.
2 3 5
1) 2 × 2 1) 2
3 4 7
2) 5 × 5 2) 5
3 −1 2
3) 6 × 6 3) 6
13 8 5
4) 11 ÷ 11 4) 11
2 2 0
5) 8 ÷ 8 5) 8 = 1
2 1
6) 15 ÷ 15 6) 15 = 15
2 3 6
7) (5 ) 7) 5
5 −1 −5
8) (3 ) 8) 3
3 −4 −12
9) (6 ) 9) 6
2 2
3
10) ( 5 ) 10)
3
10
4 4
2 6
5 3 5
11) ( 7
) 11) 3
7
2
2 4 2 −2
12) ( 2
) 12) 4 =2
2

Group B Fill in the missing value 𝑥 to make each

equation true.
2
1) 2 × 2 = 2
𝑥 5 1) 𝑥 = 3
3
2) 20 × 20 = 20
6 𝑥 2) 𝑥 = 9

3) 14
10
× 14 = 14
𝑥 5 3) 𝑥 =− 5
5
4) 16 ÷ 16 = 16
𝑥 3 4) 𝑥 = 2

5) 10
10
÷ 10 = 1
𝑥 5) 𝑥 = 10

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Answers

Group B 𝑥
6) 13 ÷ 13
10
= 13
12 6) 𝑥 = 22
contd 5 2
7) (17 ) = 17
𝑥 7) 𝑥 = 10
𝑥 3
8) (12 ) = 12
6 8) 𝑥 = 2
4 𝑥
9) (10 ) = 10
−4 9) 𝑥 =− 1

10) 𝑥 = 4
8
8 𝑥
10) ( 4 ) =8
8

11) 𝑥 =− 5
10
16 15
11) ( 𝑥 ) = 16
16

12) 𝑥 =− 1
𝑥
10 2 −8
12) ( 3 ) = 10
10

Group C Simplify each expression. Write your answer

in index form
5 4 3 12
1) 3 × 3 × 3 1) 3
2 2 5
2) 2 × 2 × 2 2) 2
4 −2 3
3) 8 × 8 × 8 3) 8
5 2 4
4) 3 × 3 ÷ 3 4) 3
3 −1 −2 4
5) 7 × 7 ÷7 5) 7
3 −3
6) 4 ÷ 4 ÷ 4 6) 4
3 2 5 13
7) 9 × (9 ) 7) 9
3 1 4 −1
8) 10 × ( 10 ) 8) 10
1 4
5
9) 2 ÷ (2 )
2 2 9) 2
2 4
7 3
10) 3 × ( 5 ) 10) 3
3
6 −3
7
11) 7 × ( 10 ) 11) 7
7
2 −14
−3 9
12) 9 ÷( −9 ) 12) 9
9

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GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Answers

Question Answer

Applied Questions

1) Below are the graphs of two functions 𝑦 = 2

𝑛

𝑛
and 𝑦 = 3 for − 4 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 4

a) Use the graph to solve 2𝑛 = 3𝑛 for a) 𝑛 = 0

− 4 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 4.
b) Josie says “2𝑛 × 3𝑛 = 6𝑛”. Is she correct? b) Yes. 2𝑛 × 3𝑛 = (2 × 3)𝑛 = 6𝑛
Explain your answer.
2) a) Which of the expressions below are equal to 1 a) 43 × 4−3
? Circle all that apply.
2 3
3 −3 1 −1 2 2 3 5 3 −8
5 ×5
5 ×5
4 ×4 ( 2
) ( 2) 5
(𝑝 + 𝑝 ) 5
5 5

b) What power of 𝑥 would make the following b) 𝑥 = 9

expression true
4 10
2 ×2
𝑥 = 32
2

3) a) Simplify (43)4. a) 412

b) Express part a) as a power of 2. b) (22)12 = 224

4) a) Given that 𝑎 =
1
, express 𝑎 as a single power a)
1
0
1
−2
1

5 1 ÷ 52 = 5 − 52 = 5
of 5.
b) 5− 2 × 5 2
1 1
1
b) Calculate 𝑎 × 5 2 .
1
5 =5

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Number

Powers and Roots - Mark Scheme

Question Answer

Exam Questions

1) (a) Simplify 12𝑥3 ÷ 3𝑥5 (a) 12𝑥3 ÷ 3𝑥5 = 4𝑥3−5 (1)

−2 4
4𝑥 or 2 (1)
𝑥

(b) Evaluate 5−3. Write your answer as a (b) 5−3 = 1

3 =
1
(1)
5 125
fraction.
2) (a) Show that 42 = 24 using laws of indices. (a) 42 = (22)2 = 24 (1)
(b) Let 𝑥 ≥ 0. State 3 more values of 𝑥 (b) Any 3 positive even numbers, (1)
𝑥
where 2 is a power of 4. excluding 4

3) (a) Calculate the value of (1002 ÷ 103)3. (a) ((102)2 ÷ 103)3 = (104 ÷ 103)3 (1)
Express your answer as a power of 10. 4−3 3 3 (1)
= (10 ) = 10
(b) Calculate (3 × 104) × (4 × 10−1). (b) 12 × 103 (1)
Write your answer in standard form. 4 (1)
1. 2 × 10
4) (a) 4 −2
1
(a) 4
= (5)
2 −1
(1)
Evaluate ( 25
) 25
5
= 2
= 2. 5 (1)

(b) 27
2
(b) ( 3 )2 (1)
Let 𝑥 = 64
. Calculate 𝑥 .3
4
9
16
(1)

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