Exponents & Surds is one of 10 topics in the Grade 11 Mathematics CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Evaluate: 8^(1/3)
Answer: 2 — 8^(1/3) means the cube root of 8; since 2^3 = 8, 8^(1/3) = 2.
Easy
2. Evaluate: 27^(2/3)
Answer: 9 — 27^(2/3) = (27^(1/3))^2 = 3^2 = 9.
Medium
3. Simplify, leaving your answer with a single exponent: x^(1/2) x x^(1/2)
Answer: x — Using the product law: x^(1/2) x x^(1/2) = x^(1/2+1/2) = x^1 = x.
