Checkpoint 2
Index Laws, Scientific Notation, Significant Figures, Fractional Indices and Surds.
Multiple Choice Questions
Simplify $3^5 \times 3^3$.
Evaluate $(2^3)^2$.
Evaluate $5^{-2}$.
Write 0.00047 in scientific notation.
Round 4.0756 to 3 significant figures.
Evaluate $\dfrac{8^5}{8^3}$.
Evaluate $27^{1/3}$.
Simplify $\sqrt{48}$.
Rationalise $\dfrac{3}{\sqrt{3}}$.
Evaluate $(3 \times 10^4) \div (6 \times 10^2)$, giving your answer in scientific notation.
Short Answer Questions
Simplify the following expressions, leaving your answers in exact form where appropriate.
(a) $x^7 \times x^{-3}$ (1 mark)
(b) $\dfrac{10^8}{10^5}$ (1 mark)
(c) $(2^3)^{-2}$ (1 mark)
(d) $25^{1/2} + 8^{1/3}$ (2 marks)
A rectangular paddock has length $2\sqrt{3}$ km and width $\sqrt{6}$ km.
(a) Find the exact area of the paddock, in simplest surd form. (2 marks)
(b) Evaluate the area as a decimal, rounded to 1 decimal place. (1 mark)
(c) Explain why the exact surd form is preferred when this area will be used in further calculations. (2 marks)
Quick Review
Index Law 1
$a^m \times a^n = a^{m+n}$
Index Law 2
$a^m \div a^n = a^{m-n}$
Power of a Power
$(a^m)^n = a^{mn}$
Zero Index
$a^0 = 1$
Negative Index
$a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}$
Scientific Notation
$a \times 10^n$, $1 \le a < 10$
Significant Figures
Count from first non-zero digit
Fractional Indices
$a^{m/n} = \sqrt[n]{a^m}$
Simplify Surds
Extract largest perfect square
Rationalise
Multiply by surd/$\sqrt{a}$