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GCSE Mathematics · key term
An expression such as , consisting of a base and an index.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification N3, N6, A4 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
An instruction to multiply a number by itself a stated number of times, written using an index, such as .
Revise: Operational RelationshipsPowers and roots can also be inverse operations.
When estimating, write down known powers on either side of the target. The inequalities justify your estimate even if several rounded answers would be reasonable.
Check which operation is required: for example, asks for a power, whereas asks for the number that was squared.
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A shortened way of writing repeated multiplication in the form , where is the base and is the exponent.
Specification N6, A4 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
An expression of the form , where is the base and is the index or exponent.
Revise: Powers and RootsA power is a compact way to write repeated multiplication.
An expression consisting of a base and an index, such as .
Specification 1.04a, 3.01b, 3.01c, 5.02a · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)
A calculation written using a base and an exponent; the exponent tells you how many times the base is used as a factor.
Revise: Checking CalculationsA power and its corresponding root also reverse one another.
An expression of the form , or its value, formed by raising a base to an index.
An expression such as , consisting of a base raised to an index.
The number of times a variable is multiplied by itself; for example, is the third power, or cube, of .
Check the operation before choosing a rule: multiply like bases → add indices; divide like bases → subtract indices; power raised to a power → multiply indices.