Compare and contrast, in complete sentences, the difference between the products of a2a4 and (a2)4. Provide the expanded form and product of each. Help, please and thank you!!

Question

Compare and contrast, in complete sentences, the difference between the products of a2a4 and (a2)4. Provide the expanded form and product of each.  Help, please and thank you!!

phoenixfire · Answer

Well the first one is:
$$a^2a^4=a^{2+4}=a^6$$
And the second is:
$$(a^2)^4=a^{(2)(4)}=a^8$$

In one you add the exponents together while in the other you multiply them. As you can clearly see a^6 is not the equal to a^8.

anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much!!