Simplify y⁵ × y³.

Step by step, with the reason for every step · GCSE Maths Foundation Paper 1 · GCSE Maths

Step by step

Question: simplify (y⁵)(y³).

Brackets next to each other mean times.

(y⁵)(y³)

The rule: when we multiply the same letter, we add the powers.

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

We add the powers of y.

= y^{5 + 3}

5 plus 3 is 8.

So we get y⁸.

= y⁸

Answer

= y⁸

Try this one yourself, then check your answer:

Simplify (y⁵)(y²)

Show the answer

y⁷