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Indices (Exponents)ICSE Class 9 Maths Important Questions

13 hand-picked ICSE Class 9 Maths important questions for Indices (Exponents), each with a full model answer — the formats and topics most likely to appear in your board exam.

13
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6
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32
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Quick answer

High-yield ICSE Indices (Exponents) questions apply the laws am×an=am+na^m\times a^n=a^{m+n}a^m× a^n=a^m+n, aman=amn\dfrac{a^m}{a^n}=a^{m-n}a^m/a^n=a^m-n, (am)n=amn(a^m)^n=a^{mn}(a^m)^n=a^mn, a0=1a^0=1a^0=1 and an=1ana^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^n}a^-n=1/a^n to simplify expressions, and solve exponential equations by making the bases equal. Simplification and 'solve for xxx' questions appear every year.

About Indices (Exponents)

In the ICSE Class 9 Maths chapter Indices (Exponents) you use the laws of indices to simplify expressions with integral and fractional exponents, evaluate powers, and solve exponential equations by expressing both sides with a common base. The chapter builds fluency with negative and zero exponents and with surd-power forms. For a positive real number aaa and rational powers m,nm,nm,n, the three laws you'll be asked to state and apply are the product law am×an=am+na^m\times a^n=a^{m+n}a^m× a^n=a^m+n, the quotient law aman=amn\dfrac{a^m}{a^n}=a^{m-n}a^m/a^n=a^m-n, and the power law (am)n=amn(a^m)^n=a^{mn}(a^m)^n=a^mn — including with rational (fractional) powers, not just whole-number exponents.

Laws of indicesZero and negative exponentsFractional (rational) exponentsSimplifying index expressionsSolving exponential equations

Key concepts & formulas

Laws of indices

am×an=am+na^m\times a^n=a^{m+n}a^m× a^n=a^m+n, aman=amn\dfrac{a^m}{a^n}=a^{m-n}a^m/a^n=a^m-n, (am)n=amn(a^m)^n=a^{mn}(a^m)^n=a^mn, (ab)n=anbn(ab)^n=a^n b^n(ab)^n=a^n b^n, (ab)n=anbn\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^n=\dfrac{a^n}{b^n}(a/b)^n=a^n/b^n.

Zero and negative exponents

For a0a\neq0a≠0, a0=1a^0=1a^0=1 and an=1ana^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^n}a^-n=1/a^n. Also (ab)n=(ba)n\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^{n}(a/b)^-n=(b/a)^n.

Fractional exponents

a1/n=ana^{1/n}=\sqrt[n]{a}a^1/n=[n]a and am/n=amn=(an)ma^{m/n}=\sqrt[n]{a^m}=\left(\sqrt[n]{a}\right)^ma^m/n=[n]a^m=([n]a)^m, for a>0a>0a>0.

Solving exponential equations

If ax=aya^x=a^ya^x=a^y with a>0, a1a>0,\ a\neq1a>0, a≠1, then x=yx=yx=y. Rewrite both sides to a common base first.

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Important questions with answers

Try each on paper first, then reveal the model answer to check your method.

Question typeCountMarks
MCQ41
Assertion–Reason11
Very Short22
Short Answer33
Long Answer25
Case-based14

Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)

Q1MCQEasy1 mark

The value of 232^{-3}2^-3 is:

  1. (a)

    18\dfrac1818

  2. (b)

    888

  3. (c)

    8-8-8

  4. (d)

    18-\dfrac18-18

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Answer: (a) 18\dfrac1818.

23=123=182^{-3}=\dfrac{1}{2^3}=\dfrac182^-3=1/2^3=18.

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Q2MCQEasy1 mark

Simplify x5×x2x^5\times x^{-2}x^5× x^-2.

  1. (a)

    x3x^3x^3

  2. (b)

    x7x^7x^7

  3. (c)

    x10x^{-10}x^-10

  4. (d)

    x3x^{-3}x^-3

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Answer: (a) x3x^3x^3.

x5×x2=x5+(2)=x3x^5\times x^{-2}=x^{5+(-2)}=x^3x^5× x^-2=x^5+(-2)=x^3.

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Q3MCQModerate1 mark

The value of (278)2/3\left(\dfrac{27}{8}\right)^{-2/3}(27/8)^-2/3 is:

  1. (a)

    49\dfrac4949

  2. (b)

    94\dfrac9494

  3. (c)

    94×94\dfrac{9}{4}\times\dfrac{9}{4}9/4×9/4

  4. (d)

    23\dfrac2323

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Answer: (a) 49\dfrac4949.

(278)2/3=(827)2/3=(23)2=49\left(\dfrac{27}{8}\right)^{-2/3}=\left(\dfrac{8}{27}\right)^{2/3}=\left(\dfrac{2}{3}\right)^{2}=\dfrac49(27/8)^-2/3=(8/27)^2/3=(2/3)^2=49.

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Q4MCQHOTS1 mark

If 2x=8y+12^x=8^{\,y+1}2^x=8^\,y+1 and 9y=3x99^y=3^{\,x-9}9^y=3^\,x-9, then the value of x+yx+yx+y is:

  1. (a)

    272727

  2. (b)

    212121

  3. (c)

    242424

  4. (d)

    181818

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Answer: (a) 272727.

2x=23(y+1)x=3y+32^x=2^{3(y+1)}\Rightarrow x=3y+32^x=2^3(y+1) x=3y+3. Also 32y=3x92y=x93^{2y}=3^{x-9}\Rightarrow 2y=x-93^2y=3^x-9 2y=x-9. Substitute: 2y=(3y+3)9y=6y=62y=(3y+3)-9\Rightarrow -y=-6\Rightarrow y=62y=(3y+3)-9 -y=-6 y=6, so x=21x=21x=21. Hence x+y=27x+y=27x+y=27.

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Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)

Q5Assertion–ReasonModerate1 mark

Assertion (A): (35)2=259\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{-2}=\dfrac{25}{9}(3/5)^-2=25/9.

Reason (R): For a0a\neq0a≠0, (ab)n=(ba)n\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^{n}(a/b)^-n=(b/a)^n.

  1. (a)

    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

  2. (b)

    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. (c)

    A is true but R is false

  4. (d)

    A is false but R is true

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Answer: (a) Using R, (35)2=(53)2=259\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{-2}=\left(\dfrac{5}{3}\right)^{2}=\dfrac{25}{9}(3/5)^-2=(5/3)^2=25/9, so A is true and R correctly explains it.

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Very short answer questions (2 marks)

Q6Very ShortEasy2 marks

Evaluate (1681)3/4\left(\dfrac{16}{81}\right)^{-3/4}(16/81)^-3/4.

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(1681)3/4=(8116)3/4=(3424)3/4=(32)3=278.\left(\dfrac{16}{81}\right)^{-3/4}=\left(\dfrac{81}{16}\right)^{3/4}=\left(\dfrac{3^4}{2^4}\right)^{3/4}=\left(\dfrac{3}{2}\right)^{3}=\dfrac{27}{8}.(16/81)^-3/4=(81/16)^3/4=(3^4/2^4)^3/4=(3/2)^3=27/8.

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Q7Very ShortModerate2 marks

Solve for xxx: 3x+2=273^{x+2}=273^x+2=27.

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Write 27=3327=3^327=3^3:

3x+2=33x+2=3x=1.3^{x+2}=3^{3}\Rightarrow x+2=3\Rightarrow x=1.3^x+2=3^3 x+2=3 x=1.

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Short answer questions (3 marks)

Q8Short AnswerModerate3 marks

Simplify: a1+b1a1b1\dfrac{a^{-1}+b^{-1}}{a^{-1}-b^{-1}}a^-1+b^-1a^-1-b^-1 and express with positive indices.

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Write with positive indices:

1a+1b1a1b=b+aabbaab.\frac{\dfrac1a+\dfrac1b}{\dfrac1a-\dfrac1b}=\frac{\dfrac{b+a}{ab}}{\dfrac{b-a}{ab}}.1a+1b/1a-1b=b+a/abb-a/ab.

The ababab cancels:

=a+bba.=\frac{a+b}{b-a}.=a+b/b-a.

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Q9Short AnswerModerate3 marks

Prove that 11+xab+11+xba=1\dfrac{1}{1+x^{a-b}}+\dfrac{1}{1+x^{b-a}}=111+x^a-b+11+x^b-a=1.

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Consider the second term and multiply numerator and denominator by xabx^{a-b}x^a-b:

11+xba=xabxab(1+xba)=xabxab+x0=xabxab+1.\frac{1}{1+x^{b-a}}=\frac{x^{a-b}}{x^{a-b}(1+x^{b-a})}=\frac{x^{a-b}}{x^{a-b}+x^{0}}=\frac{x^{a-b}}{x^{a-b}+1}.11+x^b-a=x^a-bx^a-b(1+x^b-a)=x^a-bx^a-b+x^0=x^a-bx^a-b+1.

Now add the two terms:

11+xab+xab1+xab=1+xab1+xab=1.\frac{1}{1+x^{a-b}}+\frac{x^{a-b}}{1+x^{a-b}}=\frac{1+x^{a-b}}{1+x^{a-b}}=1.11+x^a-b+x^a-b1+x^a-b=1+x^a-b1+x^a-b=1.

Hence proved.

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Q10Short AnswerEasy3 marks

Simplify: 25×4283\dfrac{2^{5}\times 4^{2}}{8^{3}}2^5× 4^28^3, giving the answer as a power of 222.

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Express every term as a power of 222:

42=(22)2=24,83=(23)3=29.4^2=(2^2)^2=2^4,\qquad 8^3=(2^3)^3=2^9.4^2=(2^2)^2=2^4, 8^3=(2^3)^3=2^9.

So

25×2429=2929=20=1.\frac{2^5\times 2^4}{2^9}=\frac{2^{9}}{2^{9}}=2^{0}=1.2^5× 2^4/2^9=2^92^9=2^0=1.

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Long answer questions (5 marks)

Q11Long AnswerModerate5 marks

Solve for xxx: 22x1=182^{2x-1}=\dfrac{1}{8}2^2x-1=1/8, and separately solve 5x+1=25x15^{x+1}=25^{\,x-1}5^x+1=25^\,x-1.

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Part 1: Write 18=23\dfrac18=2^{-3}18=2^-3:

22x1=232x1=32x=2x=1.2^{2x-1}=2^{-3}\Rightarrow 2x-1=-3\Rightarrow 2x=-2\Rightarrow x=-1.2^2x-1=2^-3 2x-1=-3 2x=-2 x=-1.

Part 2: Write 25=5225=5^225=5^2 so 25x1=52(x1)=52x225^{x-1}=5^{2(x-1)}=5^{2x-2}25^x-1=5^2(x-1)=5^2x-2:

5x+1=52x2x+1=2x2x=3.5^{x+1}=5^{2x-2}\Rightarrow x+1=2x-2\Rightarrow x=3.5^x+1=5^2x-2 x+1=2x-2 x=3.

So the solutions are x=1x=-1x=-1 and x=3x=3x=3 respectively.

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Q12Long AnswerHOTS5 marks

If ax=by=cza^x=b^y=c^za^x=b^y=c^z and b2=acb^2=acb^2=ac, prove that 1x+1z=2y\dfrac1x+\dfrac1z=\dfrac2y1x+1z=2y.

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Let ax=by=cz=ka^x=b^y=c^z=ka^x=b^y=c^z=k (a common value, k>0k>0k>0).

Then

a=k1/x,b=k1/y,c=k1/z.a=k^{1/x},\qquad b=k^{1/y},\qquad c=k^{1/z}.a=k^1/x, b=k^1/y, c=k^1/z.

Given b2=acb^2=acb^2=ac, substitute:

(k1/y)2=k1/xk1/z.\left(k^{1/y}\right)^2=k^{1/x}\cdot k^{1/z}.(k^1/y)^2=k^1/x· k^1/z.

k2/y=k1x+1z.k^{2/y}=k^{\,\frac1x+\frac1z}.k^2/y=k^\,1x+1z.

Since the bases are equal (k>0, k1k>0,\ k\neq1k>0, k≠1), equate the exponents:

2y=1x+1z.\frac2y=\frac1x+\frac1z.2y=1x+1z.

Hence 1x+1z=2y\dfrac1x+\dfrac1z=\dfrac2y1x+1z=2y, as required.

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Case-based questions (4 marks)

Q13Case-basedModerate4 marks

A bacteria colony doubles every hour. Its count after ttt hours is N=N02tN=N_0\cdot 2^{t}N=N_0· 2^t, where N0N_0N_0 is the starting count. A lab starts with N0=500N_0=500N_0=500 bacteria.

(i) Write NNN after 333 hours as a power expression and evaluate it.

(ii) After how many hours will the count reach 160001600016000?

(iii) Express N0=500N_0=500N_0=500 and the 333-hour count as products of powers of primes.

(iv) If instead the colony triples each hour, write the count after ttt hours.

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(i) N=50023=500×8=4000N=500\cdot 2^{3}=500\times8=4000N=500· 2^3=500×8=4000 bacteria.

(ii) Solve 5002t=160002t=32=25t=5500\cdot 2^{t}=16000\Rightarrow 2^{t}=32=2^{5}\Rightarrow t=5500· 2^t=16000 2^t=32=2^5 t=5 hours.

(iii) 500=22×53500=2^2\times5^3500=2^2×5^3. The 333-hour count 4000=25×534000=2^{5}\times5^{3}4000=2^5×5^3 (since 4000=40004000=40004000=4000, and 25=32, 32×125=40002^5=32,\ 32\times125=40002^5=32, 32×125=4000).

(iv) With tripling, N=5003tN=500\cdot 3^{t}N=500· 3^t.

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    Yes — they are aligned to the CISCE latest syllabus syllabus for ICSE Class 9 Maths, so nothing here is outside the current course.
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  • What types of questions are covered for Indices (Exponents)?
    A full mix — multiple-choice questions, assertion–reason questions, very short answer questions, short answer questions, long answer questions, case-based questions — so every format in the ICSE paper is covered.

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