Simplifying Expressions with Exponents
This article will demonstrate how to simplify the expression (-8x⁴y³)(2x⁵y²) + 7x⁹y⁵. We'll break down the steps using the rules of exponents.
Understanding the Rules of Exponents
Before we begin, let's review some key rules of exponents:
- Product of Powers: xᵃ * xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ
- Power of a Product: (xy)ᵃ = xᵃyᵃ
Simplifying the Expression
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Multiply the coefficients:
(-8)(2) = -16 -
Multiply the x terms using the Product of Powers rule: x⁴ * x⁵ = x⁴⁺⁵ = x⁹
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Multiply the y terms using the Product of Powers rule: y³ * y² = y³⁺² = y⁵
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Combine the results from steps 1-3: (-8x⁴y³)(2x⁵y²) = -16x⁹y⁵
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Add the remaining term: -16x⁹y⁵ + 7x⁹y⁵
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Combine like terms: (-16 + 7)x⁹y⁵ = -9x⁹y⁵
Final Answer
The simplified expression is -9x⁹y⁵.