Question

(a + b) (a^(2) + ab + b^(2) ) multiply vertically.
The answer i came out with is a^(3) + a^(4)b^(2) + a^(2)b^(4) + b^(3)
is my answer right?

Answer 1

there should be no \(b^4\) or \(a^4\) in your answer
when you combine like terms, add the coefficients, not the exponents

Answer 2

\((a+b)(a^2+ab+b^2)=a(a^2+ab+b^2)+b(a^2+ab+b^2)\)
in other words, multiply everything by \(a\) and then by \(b\) and then combine like terms