Question

use the rule of exponents to simplify the expression

(-r^2s)^4(-r^3s5)^2

(-r^6)(-r^10)

(-r^60)?


^ means to the power etc. what am i doing wrong?

Answer 1

Can you clarify the parentheses in the expression? For example,

"(-r^2s)" is that (-r)^(2s), or -(r^2s)?

Answer 2

is this any better?

Answer 3

Perfect.

So the expression is really

[((-1)(r^2)(s))^4][((-1)(r^3)(s^5))^2]

Distribute the exponents:

[(-1)^4][(r^2)^4][s^4][(-1)^2][(r^3)^2][s^5]

(-1) to a positive exponent is positive 1, and things like (r^2)^4 become r^(2*4), so

(1)(r^8)(s^4)(1)(r^6)(s^5)

Then, r^8 times r^6 becomes r^(6+8), so

(r^14)(s^9)