Powers and indices: watch it solved step by step

See the base and the power in two colours, and watch a power become repeated multiplication. Includes the index laws. Level: KS3 / GCSE. Type any problem of this kind and the Lab works it out and animates every move, with a plain-words explanation of why.

Worked example: (-3)^2

  1. The power. The base (orange) is the number being multiplied; the power or index (blue) says how many times.
  2. Write it as repeated multiplication. The power 2 tells us to write the base -3 2 times and multiply them together.
  3. Multiply: -3 × -3. Working left to right: -3 × -3 = 9. That is 2 of 2 copies multiplied.
  4. The answer. The answer is 9.

Answer: 9

Practise powers and indices with problems the Lab marks for you.

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