(-6) with exponent of 12 times (-6) with exponent of 5 times (-6) with exponent of 2?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Hi, welcome to openstudy:)


When you multiply a power with the same base, you just add the exponenets together. 

In this case:

$$-6^{12} \times -6^5 \times -6^2$$

you would add 12 by 5 by 2:

$$(-6)^{12+5+2}$$


Can you do the rest from here?

anonymous · Answer

Can you add the exponents?

anonymous · Answer

yes but the -6's are all in perentheses does that mean anything
?

anonymous · Answer

Not really. 

You would get $$(-6)^{19}$$

You see, it's okay if it's a negative, because all three of them are negative. They have to be exactly the same for you to be able to add the exponents like that :)


Does that help?

anonymous · Answer

okay and if they weren't exactly the same what would u do? like say one of the -6's is a 4

anonymous · Answer

The parentheses just indicate that the negative is part of the 6, so that it isn't confused with a subtraction sign. 

If one of the -6's was a 4, lets say $$(−6)^{12} × (−6)^{5} × (4)^2$$

Then it would be $$(−6)^{12+5} × (4)^2$$ or just $$(−6)^{17} × (4)^2$$

To simplify further, you add the powers together and multiply the bases, so $$(−6)^{17} × (4)^2 = -24^{19} $$

anonymous · Answer

Does that make sense?

anonymous · Answer

Yes? No? I hope this helped :)

anonymous · Answer

ohhhh okay