Understanding (2a)^4 without Exponents
The expression (2a)^4 represents the multiplication of 2a by itself four times.
Let's break it down step by step:
1. Expand the Expression:
(2a)^4 = (2a) * (2a) * (2a) * (2a)
2. Apply the Distributive Property:
Remember that when multiplying multiple terms, we multiply each term individually.
- (2a) * (2a) = 4a^2
- (4a^2) * (2a) = 8a^3
- (8a^3) * (2a) = 16a^4
3. The Final Result:
Therefore, (2a)^4 without exponents is 16a^4.
Key Takeaway:
The key to understanding expressions with exponents is to recognize that they represent repeated multiplication. By breaking down the expression into its individual components and applying the distributive property, we can simplify and write the expression without using exponents.