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NCERT Solutions

Power Play — NCERT Solutions

CBSE · Class 8 · Mathematics

NCERT Solutions for Power Play, CBSE Class 8 Mathematics: 23 textbook questions solved step by step. Part of the CBSE Class 8 Mathematics syllabus.

66 questions72 flashcards22 formulas & key relations5 concepts

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23 Questions Solved · 3 Sections

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Intext Questions (Page-level questions within the chapter)

1Which expression describes the thickness of a sheet of paper after it is folded 10 times? The initial thickness is represented by the letter-number ν\nu.
(i) 10ν10\nu
(ii) 10+ν10 + \nu
(iii) 2×10×ν2 \times 10 \times \nu
(iv) 2102^{10}
(v) 210ν2^{10}\nu
(vi) 102ν10^2\nu
Show solution

Given: A sheet of paper is folded 10 times. Initial thickness = ν\nu.

Concept: Each fold doubles the thickness. So after 1 fold, thickness = 2ν2\nu; after 2 folds = 22ν2^2\nu; after nn folds = 2nν2^n\nu.

Working: After 10 folds, thickness = 210×ν=210ν2^{10} \times \nu = 2^{10}\nu.

Answer: Option (v) 210ν2^{10}\nu is correct.

The other options are incorrect because:

  • (i) 10ν10\nu represents additive (not multiplicative) growth.
  • (ii) 10+ν10 + \nu is just addition.
  • (iii) 2×10×ν=20ν2 \times 10 \times \nu = 20\nu is linear, not exponential.
  • (iv) 2102^{10} does not include the initial thickness ν\nu.
  • (vi) 102ν=100ν10^2\nu = 100\nu is not the correct base or exponent.
2Express the number 32400 as a product of its prime factors and represent the prime factors in their exponential form.Show solution

Given: Number = 32400.

Method: Prime factorisation by successive division.

32400÷2=1620032400 \div 2 = 16200
16200÷2=810016200 \div 2 = 8100
8100÷2=40508100 \div 2 = 4050
4050÷2=20254050 \div 2 = 2025
2025÷5=4052025 \div 5 = 405
405÷5=81405 \div 5 = 81
81÷3=2781 \div 3 = 27
27÷3=927 \div 3 = 9
9÷3=39 \div 3 = 3
3÷3=13 \div 3 = 1

So, 32400=2×2×2×2×5×5×3×3×3×332400 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 5 \times 5 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3.

In exponential form:
32400=24×52×34\boxed{32400 = 2^4 \times 5^2 \times 3^4}

3What is (−1)5(-1)^5? Is it positive or negative? What about (−1)56(-1)^{56}?Show solution

Concept: A negative number raised to an odd power is negative; raised to an even power is positive.

Working:
(−1)5=(−1)×(−1)×(−1)×(−1)×(−1)=−1(-1)^5 = (-1) \times (-1) \times (-1) \times (-1) \times (-1) = -1
Since the exponent 5 is odd, (−1)5(-1)^5 is negative.

(−1)56=1(-1)^{56} = 1
Since the exponent 56 is even, (−1)56(-1)^{56} is positive and equals 11.

4Is (−2)4=16(-2)^4 = 16? Verify.Show solution

Working:
(−2)4=(−2)×(−2)×(−2)×(−2)(-2)^4 = (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2)
=[(−2)×(−2)]×[(−2)×(−2)]= [(-2) \times (-2)] \times [(-2) \times (-2)]
=4×4=16= 4 \times 4 = 16

Yes, (−2)4=16(-2)^4 = 16. ✓

Note: The exponent is even, so the result is positive.

5How many rooms were there altogether? (From the riddle: Three daughters, each got 3 baskets, each basket had 3 silver keys, each key opens 3 rooms.)Show solution

Given:

  • Number of daughters = 3
  • Each daughter gets 3 baskets → Total baskets = 3×3=32=93 \times 3 = 3^2 = 9
  • Each basket has 3 keys → Total keys = 32×3=33=273^2 \times 3 = 3^3 = 27
  • Each key opens 3 rooms → Total rooms = 33×3=343^3 \times 3 = 3^4

Calculation:
34=3×3×3×3=813^4 = 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 = 81

There are 81\boxed{81} rooms altogether.

6How many diamonds were there in total? (Each room had 3 tables, each table had 3 necklaces, each necklace had 3 diamonds.)Show solution

Given (continuing from rooms):

  • Total rooms = 34=813^4 = 81
  • Each room has 3 tables → Total tables = 34×3=353^4 \times 3 = 3^5
  • Each table has 3 necklaces → Total necklaces = 35×3=363^5 \times 3 = 3^6
  • Each necklace has 3 diamonds → Total diamonds = 36×3=373^6 \times 3 = 3^7

Calculation:
37=3×3×3×3×3×3×3=21873^7 = 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 = 2187

There are 2187\boxed{2187} diamonds in total.

Using products already computed: 34=813^4 = 81, and 81×3=243=3581 \times 3 = 243 = 3^5, 243×3=729=36243 \times 3 = 729 = 3^6, 729×3=2187=37729 \times 3 = 2187 = 3^7.

Figure it Out — Set 1 (Exponential Notation)

1Express the following in exponential form:
(i) 6×6×6×66 \times 6 \times 6 \times 6
(ii) b×b×b×bb \times b \times b \times b
(iii) y×yy \times y
(iv) 2×2×a×a2 \times 2 \times a \times a
(v) 5×5×7×7×75 \times 5 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7
(vi) a×a×a×c×c×c×c×da \times a \times a \times c \times c \times c \times c \times d
Show solution

Concept: nn multiplied by itself aa times is written as nan^a.

(i) 6×6×6×66 \times 6 \times 6 \times 6
=64= \boxed{6^4}
(6 appears 4 times)

(ii) b×b×b×bb \times b \times b \times b
=b4= \boxed{b^4}
(bb appears 4 times)

(iii) y×yy \times y
=y2= \boxed{y^2}
(yy appears 2 times)

(iv) 2×2×a×a2 \times 2 \times a \times a
=22a2= \boxed{2^2 a^2}
(2 appears 2 times, aa appears 2 times)

(v) 5×5×7×7×75 \times 5 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7
=52×73= \boxed{5^2 \times 7^3}
(5 appears 2 times, 7 appears 3 times)

(vi) a×a×a×c×c×c×c×da \times a \times a \times c \times c \times c \times c \times d
=a3c4d= \boxed{a^3 c^4 d}
(aa appears 3 times, cc appears 4 times, dd appears 1 time)

2Express each of the following as a product of powers of their prime factors in exponential form.
(i) 648
(ii) 405
(iii) 540
(iv) 3600
Show solution

Method: Divide repeatedly by prime numbers starting from the smallest.

(i) 648:
648÷2=324,324÷2=162,162÷2=81648 \div 2 = 324,\quad 324 \div 2 = 162,\quad 162 \div 2 = 81
81÷3=27,27÷3=9,9÷3=3,3÷3=181 \div 3 = 27,\quad 27 \div 3 = 9,\quad 9 \div 3 = 3,\quad 3 \div 3 = 1
648=23×34\boxed{648 = 2^3 \times 3^4}

(ii) 405:
405÷3=135,135÷3=45,45÷3=15,15÷3=5,5÷5=1405 \div 3 = 135,\quad 135 \div 3 = 45,\quad 45 \div 3 = 15,\quad 15 \div 3 = 5,\quad 5 \div 5 = 1
405=34×5\boxed{405 = 3^4 \times 5}

(iii) 540:
540÷2=270,270÷2=135540 \div 2 = 270,\quad 270 \div 2 = 135
135÷3=45,45÷3=15,15÷3=5,5÷5=1135 \div 3 = 45,\quad 45 \div 3 = 15,\quad 15 \div 3 = 5,\quad 5 \div 5 = 1
540=22×33×5\boxed{540 = 2^2 \times 3^3 \times 5}

(iv) 3600:
3600÷2=1800,1800÷2=900,900÷2=450,450÷2=2253600 \div 2 = 1800,\quad 1800 \div 2 = 900,\quad 900 \div 2 = 450,\quad 450 \div 2 = 225
225÷3=75,75÷3=25,25÷5=5,5÷5=1225 \div 3 = 75,\quad 75 \div 3 = 25,\quad 25 \div 5 = 5,\quad 5 \div 5 = 1
3600=24×32×52\boxed{3600 = 2^4 \times 3^2 \times 5^2}

3Write the numerical value of each of the following:
(i) 2×1032 \times 10^{3}
(ii) 72×237^{2} \times 2^{3}
(iii) 3×443 \times 4^{4}
(iv) (−3)2×(−5)2(-3)^{2} \times (-5)^{2}
(v) 32×1043^{2} \times 10^{4}
(vi) (−2)5×(−10)6(-2)^{5} \times (-10)^{6}
Show solution

Concept: Evaluate each power first, then multiply.

(i) 2×103=2×1000=20002 \times 10^3 = 2 \times 1000 = \boxed{2000}

(ii) 72×23=49×8=3927^2 \times 2^3 = 49 \times 8 = \boxed{392}

(iii) 3×44=3×256=7683 \times 4^4 = 3 \times 256 = \boxed{768}

(iv) (−3)2×(−5)2=9×25=225(-3)^2 \times (-5)^2 = 9 \times 25 = \boxed{225}
(Both exponents are even, so both results are positive.)

(v) 32×104=9×10000=900003^2 \times 10^4 = 9 \times 10000 = \boxed{90000}

(vi) (−2)5×(−10)6(-2)^5 \times (-10)^6
(−2)5=−32(-2)^5 = -32 (odd power → negative)
(−10)6=1000000(-10)^6 = 1000000 (even power → positive)
(−32)×1000000=−32000000(-32) \times 1000000 = \boxed{-32000000}

Figure it Out — Set 2 (Laws of Exponents and Applications)

1Find out the units digit in the value of 2224÷4322^{224} \div 4^{32}. [Hint: 4=224 = 2^2]Show solution

Given: 2224÷4322^{224} \div 4^{32}

Step 1: Convert 4324^{32} using 4=224 = 2^2:
432=(22)32=2644^{32} = (2^2)^{32} = 2^{64}

Step 2: Apply the division law na÷nb=na−bn^a \div n^b = n^{a-b}:
2224÷264=2224−64=21602^{224} \div 2^{64} = 2^{224-64} = 2^{160}

Step 3: Find the units digit of 21602^{160}.
The units digits of powers of 2 follow a cycle of 4: 2,4,8,6,2,4,8,6,…2, 4, 8, 6, 2, 4, 8, 6, \ldots
160÷4=40 (exactly divisible, remainder = 0)160 \div 4 = 40 \text{ (exactly divisible, remainder = 0)}
A remainder of 0 corresponds to the 4th position in the cycle, which gives units digit 6.

The units digit of 2224÷4322^{224} \div 4^{32} is 6\boxed{6}.

2There are 5 bottles in a container. Every day, a new container is brought in. How many bottles would there be after 40 days?Show solution

Given: Initially 5 bottles in a container. Every day a new container is brought in.

Interpretation: Each day, the number of containers multiplies. Starting with 1 container of 5 bottles:

  • After day 1: 515^1 bottles (1 container)
  • After day 2: 525^2 bottles (each container brings another container of 5)
  • After day nn: 5n5^n bottles

After 40 days:
Number of bottles=540\text{Number of bottles} = 5^{40}

540 bottles\boxed{5^{40} \text{ bottles}}

(This is an astronomically large number, illustrating exponential growth.)

3Write the given number as the product of two or more powers in three different ways. The powers can be any integers.
(i) 64364^3
(ii) 1928192^8
(iii) 32−532^{-5}
Show solution

Concept: Use the laws (na)b=nab(n^a)^b = n^{ab} and na×ma=(nm)an^a \times m^a = (nm)^a, and prime factorisation.

(i) 64364^3:
Note: 64=2664 = 2^6, so 643=(26)3=21864^3 = (2^6)^3 = 2^{18}.

Three ways:

  • 643=(26)3=21864^3 = (2^6)^3 = 2^{18}, i.e., 218\mathbf{2^{18}}
  • 643=(43)3=4964^3 = (4^3)^3 = 4^9, i.e., 49\mathbf{4^9}
  • 643=(82)3=8664^3 = (8^2)^3 = 8^6, i.e., 86\mathbf{8^6}

(ii) 1928192^8:
Note: 192=26×3192 = 2^6 \times 3, so 1928=248×38192^8 = 2^{48} \times 3^8.

Three ways:

  • 1928=248×38192^8 = 2^{48} \times 3^8
  • 1928=(64×3)8=648×38192^8 = (64 \times 3)^8 = 64^8 \times 3^8
  • 1928=(1924)2192^8 = (192^4)^2, i.e., (1924)2(192^4)^2

(iii) 32−532^{-5}:
Note: 32=2532 = 2^5, so 32−5=(25)−5=2−2532^{-5} = (2^5)^{-5} = 2^{-25}.

Three ways:

  • 32−5=2−2532^{-5} = 2^{-25}
  • 32−5=(25)−5=2−2532^{-5} = (2^5)^{-5} = 2^{-25}, equivalently (4−5)52(4^{-5})^{\frac{5}{2}} — or more simply: 32−5=(132)532^{-5} = \left(\frac{1}{32}\right)^5
  • 32−5=(12)2532^{-5} = \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{25}
  • 32−5=4−5×8−5÷132^{-5} = 4^{-5} \times 8^{-5} \div 1 — using 32=4×832 = 4 \times 8: (4×8)−5=4−5×8−5(4 \times 8)^{-5} = 4^{-5} \times 8^{-5}
4Examine each statement below and find out if it is 'Always True', 'Only Sometimes True', or 'Never True'. Explain your reasoning.
(i) Cube numbers are also square numbers.
(ii) Fourth powers are also square numbers.
(iii) The fifth power of a number is divisible by the cube of that number.
(iv) The product of two cube numbers is a cube number.
(v) q46q^{46} is both a 4th power and a 6th power (qq is a prime number).

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5Simplify and write these in the exponential form.
(i) 10−2×10−510^{-2} \times 10^{-5}
(ii) 57÷545^7 \div 5^4
(iii) 9−7÷949^{-7} \div 9^4
(iv) (13−2)−3(13^{-2})^{-3}
(v) m5n12(mn)9m^5 n^{12}(mn)^9

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6If 122=14412^2 = 144, what is
(i) (1.2)2(1.2)^2
(ii) (0.12)2(0.12)^2
(iii) (0.012)2(0.012)^2
(iv) 1202120^2

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7Circle the numbers that are the same among:
24×36,64×32,610,182×62,6242^4 \times 3^6, \quad 6^4 \times 3^2, \quad 6^{10}, \quad 18^2 \times 6^2, \quad 6^{24}

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8Identify the greater number in each of the following:
(i) 434^3 or 343^4
(ii) 282^8 or 828^2
(iii) 1002100^2 or 21002^{100}

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9A dairy plans to produce 8.5 billion packets of milk in a year. They want a unique ID (identifier) code for each packet. If they choose to use the digits 0–9, how many digits should the code consist of?

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1064 is a square number (828^2) and a cube number (434^3). Are there other numbers that are both squares and cubes? Is there a way to describe such numbers in general?

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11A digital locker has an alphanumeric passcode of length 5. It can have both digits (0–9) and letters (A–Z). Some example codes are G89P0, 38098, BRJKW, and 003AZ. How many such codes are possible?

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12The worldwide population of sheep (2024) is about 10910^9, and that of goats is also about the same. What is the total population of sheep and goats?
(i) 20920^9
(ii) 101110^{11}
(iii) 101010^{10}
(iv) 101810^{18}
(v) 2×1092 \times 10^9
(vi) 109+10910^9 + 10^9

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13Calculate and write the answer in scientific notation:
(i) If each person in the world had 30 pieces of clothing, find the total number of pieces of clothing.
(ii) There are about 100 million bee colonies in the world. Find the number of honeybees if each colony has about 50,000 bees.
(iii) The human body has about 38 trillion bacterial cells. Find the bacterial population residing in all humans in the world.
(iv) Total time spent eating in a lifetime in seconds.

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14What was the date 1 arab/1 billion seconds ago?

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11 more solved questions in Power Play

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Power Play for CBSE Class 8 Mathematics?
Key topics in Power Play include Exponential Notation and Repeated Multiplication, Combinations and Counting Possibilities, Division of Powers, Zero Exponent, and Negative Exponents, Powers of 10 and Expanded Form. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 8 exams.
Are these NCERT Solutions for Power Play free?
The first 12 of the 23 solutions on this page are open to read. The other 11 are free with a Super Tutor account — signing up is free and needs no card.
How should I revise Power Play for Class 8 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 66 practice questions on Power Play. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

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