Study Material for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, Prasar Bharti, FCI Exams : Indices and Surds

Indices and Surds

Indices

In the expression xn, n is called the exponent or index and x is called the base and xn is read as ‘x to the power of n’ or ‘x raised to the power n’.
eg,
1. 36 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 729
43 = 4 × 4 × 4 = 64
The expression (xm)n is read as ‘x raised to the power m whole raised to the power n’.
2. (24)3 = (16)3 = 212
The expression is read as ‘x raised to the power m power n’.
3. = 264
Hence, (xm)n¹

Surds

If n is a positive integer and ‘a’ is a positive rational number (a > 0), then nais called a surd of order n or nth order surd naif is an irrational number.