While simplifying some math work, Peter wrote on his paper that x3 • x3 • x3 • x3 equaled x3+ 3 + 3 +3 . Did Peter simplify his work correctly and completely to a final answer? Would Peter’s work be the same if he were to simplify x3 + x3 + x3 + x3?

Question

mathstudent55 · Answer

I assume those 3's are exponents, right?

anonymous · Answer

yes they are

mathstudent55 · Answer

$x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 = x^{3 + 3 + 3 + 3} $

The above is correct, but you can certainly simplify it more by adding the exponents on the right side.

anonymous · Answer

so the final simplified answer would actually be $$x^{12}$$ ?

mathstudent55 · Answer

Correct.

$x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 = x^{3 + 3 + 3 + 3} = x^{12}$

Now let's see the second part of the question.

$ x^3 + x^3 + x^3 + x^3 = 4x^3$

In general,

$ 4x^3 \ne x^{12}$

anonymous · Answer

ohh so the second part of the question would be $$4x^{4}$$ right?

anonymous · Answer

if so thank you very much!

mathstudent55 · Answer

Careful. It's $4x^3$, not $4x^4$.

mathstudent55 · Answer

wlcm

anonymous · Answer

my bad, i just typed in the wrong number, but thank you!

mathstudent55 · Answer

wlcm