What you need to know
Check yourself against these “I can” statements.
- I can explain why any number to the power 0 equals 1
- I can use the index laws when the answer has a negative power
- I can explain why a negative power gives a value less than 1, e.g. 2⁻³ = 1/8
Practise this topic
2 resources⚙️ Worksheet
Negative Indices
Index rules with letters, negative indices with numbers and with letters, answers written as fractions, then several letters raised to a negative power. Five difficulty levels, timed, click to reveal.
⬢ BlockbustersNegative Indices Blockbusters
Blockbusters with the questions from the Negative Indices worksheet: choose its levels for the ordinary hexagons and for the harder ★ ones. Show the answer and the worked solution, or play against the computer with multiple…
These are the pages for Using Index Laws in the Year 9 scheme of work, following Pearson Edexcel Maths Progress Delta 3, then GCSE (9–1) Higher (1MA1). Open this topic in Mr Wells Maths to see it alongside the rest of the course.