Question

What is the simplified form of the expression?

Answer 1

start by simplifying whats inside the brackets

1. multiplying the same base means add the powers

\[x^a \times x^b = x^{a + b}\]

2. dividing the same base means subtract the powers

\[\frac{x^a}{x^b} = x^{a - b}\]

then once you have simplified whats inside the brackets you need to power about power of a power, where you multiply the powers

\[(x^a)^b = x^{a \times b}\]

hope this helps