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O-Level Elementary Mathematics: Indices & Standard Form: Speed Drills

By Intuitional Team1 min read

O-Level Elementary Mathematics — Indices & Standard Form: Speed Drills: quick notes, common traps, and an exam-style example.

Indices

aᵐ × aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ, aᵐ/aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ, (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ. Negative powers mean reciprocals, fractional powers mean roots.

Standard form

Numbers written as A × 10ⁿ, with 1 ≤ A < 10. Useful for handling very large/small values.

Exam habits

  • Check calculator mode (standard form display settings).
  • Express final answers with 3 s.f. unless stated.
  • Practise laws of indices until automatic.

Tags

O-LevelElementary MathematicsIndices & Standard Form