%5E2-without-exponents.jpeg "(b^4)^2 Without Exponents")
Understanding (b^4)^2 Without Exponents
The expression (b^4)^2 might seem intimidating at first, but it's actually quite straightforward to understand without using exponents. Let's break it down step by step:
What does (b^4)^2 mean?
- b^4: This part means "b multiplied by itself four times": b * b * b * b.
- (b^4)^2: This means taking the result of b^4 (which is b * b * b * b) and multiplying it by itself: (b * b * b * b) * (b * b * b * b).
Simplifying the Expression
To write the expression without exponents, we simply expand it:
(b * b * b * b) * (b * b * b * b) = b * b * b * b * b * b * b * b
The Final Result
As you can see, the expression (b^4)^2 is equivalent to b multiplied by itself eight times.
Key Takeaways
- Exponents represent repeated multiplication: b^n means "b multiplied by itself n times."
- Nested exponents: When you have an exponent raised to another exponent, it means you're multiplying the base by itself the product of the two exponents times. In our case, 4 * 2 = 8.
- Understanding the concept: It's important to understand the underlying concept of exponents rather than just memorizing rules. This allows you to apply the concept to more complex situations.