Indices
Mathematics K–10 (2022) · Stage 4 · View this focus area on the NESA NSW Curriculum website ↗
Outcomes
MA4-IND-C-01 operates with primes and roots, positive-integer and zero indices involving numerical bases and establishes the relevant index lawsContent dot points
Each dot point has its own page with resources matched to it.
Apply index notation to represent whole numbers as products of powers of prime numbers
- Describe numbers written in index form using terms such as base, power, index and exponent 1 resource · 1 interactive/game
- Represent numbers in index notation limited to positive powers 3 resources · 1 interactive/game
- Represent in expanded form and evaluate numbers expressed in index notation, including powers of 10 6 resources
- Apply the order of operations to evaluate expressions involving indices 1 resource
- Determine and apply tests for divisibility for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 3 resources · 2 interactive/game
- Represent a whole number greater than one as a product of its prime factors, using index notation where appropriate 7 resources · 3 interactive/game
Examine cube roots and square roots
- Use the notations for square root (√) and cube root (3√()) 7 resources · 2 interactive/game
- Recognise and describe the relationship between squares and square roots, and cubes and cube roots for positive numbers 6 resources · 2 interactive/game
- Verify, through numerical examples, that √(ab) = √a × √b
- Estimate the square root of any non-square whole number and the cube root of any non-cube whole number, then check using a calculator 2 resources · 1 interactive/game
- Identify and describe exact and approximate solutions in the context of square roots and cube roots
- Apply the order of operations to evaluate expressions involving square roots, cube roots, square numbers and cube numbers
Use index notation to establish the index laws with positive-integer indices and the zero index
- Establish the multiplication, division and the power of a power index laws, by expressing each number in expanded form with numerical bases and positive- integer indices 6 resources · 1 interactive/game
- Verify through numerical examples that (ab)² = a²b² 1 resource
- Establish the meaning of the zero index 2 resources · 1 interactive/game
- Apply index laws to simplify and evaluate expressions with numerical bases 5 resources
Focus area resources
- Unit/PlanningStage 4 Unit 12 – further multiplicative thinking (sample unit of learning)
- Unit/PlanningStage 4 Unit 5 – multiplicative thinking (sample unit of learning)
Stage 4 planning resources
Stage- or course-wide documents (scope and sequences, guides) that cover this focus area alongside others.
- Unit/PlanningSample scope and sequence: Stage 4 core (NESA no. 11)
- Unit/PlanningStage 4 – sample scope and sequence
- Unit/PlanningStage 4 – stage based – sample scope and sequence