Understand How to Multiply Algebraic Powers

This activity is about simplifying algebraic powers by multiplication.

 

Example

Simplify:

(a³b²)⁴

 

 

Answer

Remember what to the power of 4 means and multiply the terms 4 times.

 

We get:    

a³b² × a³b² × a³b² × a³b²

 

Add the indices of matching identical letters

(for the letter a: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 and for the letter b: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8).

 

Answer is a¹²b⁸.

 

Now that you can see what is actually happening, we can use a quicker method to work these out.

 

All we do is to multiply the powers inside the bracket with the power outside the bracket.

 

a has the power of 3, so we multiply 3 by 4: 3 x 4 = 12 

b has the power of 2, so we multiply 2 by 4: 2 x 4 = 8

 

 a¹²b⁸.

 

Let's have a go at some questions.