Welcome to My Bitesize, let's get you set up!

Add your subjects to find the right study guides, track progress and keep everything in one place.

Add my subjects
My Subjects

Laws of indices - EdexcelDividing indices

Indices are used to show numbers that have been multiplied by themselves. They can be used instead of the roots such as the square root. The rules make complex calculations that involve powers easier.

Part of MathsNumber

Dividing indices

Example

Check out our updated revision resources for GCSE Maths: Divide indexes, with step-by-step slideshows, quizzes, practice exam questions, and more!

\(b^5 \div b^3\).

\(b^5 \div b^3\) can be written as \(\frac{b^5}{b^3}\) and writing out the and in full gives \(\frac{b \times b \times b \times b \times b}{b \times b \times b}\). There are common factors of \(b\) in the numerator and denominator and these can be cancelled out, giving \(\frac{\cancel{b} \times \cancel{b} \times \cancel{b} \times b \times b}{\cancel{b} \times \cancel{b} \times \cancel{b}}\) which leaves \(b \times b = b^2\).

This means \(b^5 \div b^3\) can be simplified to \(b^2\).

Trending Now