Understanding (3a)^2
In mathematics, the expression (3a)^2 represents the square of the entire quantity 3a. This means we need to multiply the quantity (3a) by itself.
Here's how to simplify the expression:
Step 1: Expand the expression. (3a)^2 = (3a) * (3a)
Step 2: Apply the distributive property (or FOIL method) to multiply the terms. (3a) * (3a) = (3 * 3) * (a * a)
Step 3: Simplify the expression. (3 * 3) * (a * a) = 9a^2
Therefore, (3a)^2 is equal to 9a^2.
Important Note: It's crucial to remember that squaring an expression with multiple terms means squaring the entire expression, not just the individual terms. For instance, (3a)^2 is not equal to 3^2 * a^2, but rather the product of (3a) multiplied by itself.