Power Play MCQs for UPSC Prelims

114 practice questions covering Power Play, organised into 2 topics. 114 questions include a written explanation. Pick a topic below, or try the samples first.

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Sample questions

Q1
easy

What is the value of $17^1$?

  1. A $34$
  2. B $171$
  3. C $1$
  4. D $17$
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - $17$

An exponent of $1$ means the base appears exactly once as a factor, so $17^1 = 17$. The value $1$ mistakes the exponent for the answer, $171$ joins the digits, and $34$ doubles the base.

Q2
medium

Assertion (A): $(2^2)^3 = 2^6$. Reason (R): When a power is raised to another power, the exponents are multiplied.

  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
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

A is true, since $(2^2)^3 = 4 \times 4 \times 4 = 64 = 2^6$. R states the rule correctly, and it is exactly why $2 \times 3 = 6$ appears as the exponent. So both are true and R explains A.

Q3
medium

Assertion (A): $5 \times 10^8$ is greater than $6 \times 10^7$. Reason (R): When two numbers are in standard form, the one with the bigger first number is always the greater.

  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
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - A is true, but R is false

A is true, as $500000000$ beats $60000000$. R is false: this very pair has the smaller first number $5$ giving the larger value, because the power of ten is compared first. So a true assertion sits with a false reason.

Q4
easy

Which single power equals $(2^3)^2$?

  1. A $2^5$
  2. B $2^9$
  3. C $2^6$
  4. D $4^6$
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - $2^6$

When a power is raised to another power the exponents multiply, so $3 \times 2 = 6$ gives $2^6$. Adding them gives $2^5$, raising to the wrong exponent gives $2^9$, and $4^6$ squares the base as well, which the rule does not do.

Q5
easy

Write $60000$ in standard form.

  1. A $6 \times 10^2$
  2. B $6 \times 10^3$
  3. C $6 \times 10^4$
  4. D $6 \times 10^5$
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - $6 \times 10^4$

There are four zeros after the $6$, so the number is $6 \times 10^4$. The other choices give $600000$, $6000$ and $600$, each off by a power of ten.

Q6
easy

How is $9^2$ read aloud?

  1. A Nine cubed
  2. B Two squared
  3. C Nine squared
  4. D Nine times two
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Nine squared

A power with exponent $2$ is read as the base 'squared', so $9^2$ is 'nine squared' and equals $81$. 'Two squared' would be $2^2 = 4$, 'nine times two' is $18$, and 'nine cubed' is $9^3$.

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Other subjects

Environment & Ecology 1200 Economy 1075 Logical Reasoning 1013 Quantitative Aptitude 916 Polity & Governance 897 Geography 885 Science & Technology 830 Ancient & Medieval History 737 Art & Culture 711 Modern History 589 International Relations 582 Data Interpretation 515 Reading Comprehension 408 Number Play 317 Fractions 142 A Peek Beyond the Point 125 Light: Shadows and Reflections 120 Quadrilaterals 120 Changes Around Us: Physical and Chemical 120 Proportional Reasoning-1 120 Measurement of Length and Motion 116 Exploring Substances: Acidic, Basic, and Neutral 116 Prime Time 116 Light: Mirrors and Lenses 116 Mindful Eating: A Path to a Healthy Body 115 Exploring Forces 115 Lines and Angles 115 Measurement of Time and Motion 115 Nature's Treasures 115 Parallel and Intersecting Lines 115 Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones 115 The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye 112 Working with Fractions 110 Diversity in the Living World 110 A Journey through States of Water 110 A Tale of Three Intersecting Lines 110 The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions 110 Electricity: Circuits and their Components 110 How Nature Works in Harmony 110 Large Numbers Around Us 110 Nature of Matter: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures 110 The World of Metals and Non-metals 110 Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects 110 We Distribute, Yet Things Multiply 110 A Square and A Cube 109 The Other Side of Zero 106 Heat Transfer in Nature 105 Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics 105 Health: The Ultimate Treasure 105 Expressions using Letter-Numbers 105 Methods of Separation in Everyday Life 105 Exploring Magnets 105 Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet 105 Beyond Earth 105 Life Processes in Animals 105 Life Processes in Plants 105 Patterns in Mathematics 103 Perimeter and Area 100 Particulate Nature of Matter 100 Materials Around Us 100 A Story of Numbers 100 Earth, Moon, and the Sun 100