How do you simplify this?

Question

anonymous · Answer

$$-4x(x ^{-3}y ^{2})(-2x ^{4}y ^{-3})$$

valpey · Answer

You are multiplying a number of terms here; some constants, and some exponentiated bases. There is a phrase (alike bases, add exponents). What it means is that for the two different bases, x and y, we can add together all the exponents. So first multiply the constants together and put that in front. Next write and x and sum all the exponents attached to the x's (remember x is the same as x^1). Next do the same for the y's.

anonymous · Answer

Still a bit confused..

valpey · Answer

First let's do the constants, what are the constants and what is their product?

anonymous · Answer

There are none..?

valpey · Answer

What about -2?

anonymous · Answer

How?

valpey · Answer

-4 and -2 are constants or coefficients. You can multiply them together.

valpey · Answer

That gives us:
$$(-2*-4)*x(x^{-3}y^2)(x^4y^{-3})$$

valpey · Answer

Next, let's group the x's and the y's together.

valpey · Answer

Remembering that x is the same as x^1, you can add the exponents together for each base, x and y.

valpey · Answer

$$(-2*-4)(x^1x^{-3}x^4)(y^2y^{-3})$$
Good luck!