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!!

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Thank you so much!!