Simplify 3x^2 * 4x^5 Step by Step

Step by step

Question: simplify (3x²)(4x⁵).

Brackets next to each other mean times.

(3x²)(4x⁵)

In times, the order does not matter.

So numbers go with numbers, and each letter goes with the same letter.

order does not matter: ab = ba

We put them in groups.

= (3 × 4)(x² x⁵)

A power tells how many times the letter is multiplied.

x² is 2 x's.

x⁵ is 5 x's.

Together that is 7 x's.

x² x⁵ = (xx)(xxxxx) = x⁷

So the rule is: same letter, times, add the powers.

2 plus 5 is 7.

2 + 5 = 7

x^a x^b = x^{a + b}

3 times 4 is 12.

So we get 12x⁷.

= 12x⁷

Let's look back.

First: numbers with numbers.

Last: count the letters.

Answer

= 12x⁷