While simplifying some math work, Peter wrote on his paper that x^3 • x^3 • x^3 • x^3 equaled x^3+ 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 x^3 + x^3 + x^3 + x^3?

Question

minecrafter64 · Answer

no

diamondboy · Answer

peter didn't simplify his work completely and peters work is not the same as x^3+x^3+x^3+x^3

minecrafter64 · Answer

it wouldnt be the same

diamondboy · Answer

this is d simplified answer x^12

minecrafter64 · Answer

true dat

minecrafter64 · Answer

x^12 is the answer all in agreement.

nurali · Answer

https://prezi.com/3dsk70wt_tnv/202/

mathstudent55 · Answer

The first question is correct, only it has to be written correctly.

$\LARGE x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 = x^{3+3+3+3} $

The above line is correct.
That was your first question.

mathstudent55 · Answer

The above line was correct, but it was not a final answer.
A final answer would be (below, in red):

$\LARGE x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 \cdot x^3 = x^{3+3+3+3} = \color{red}{x^{12}}$

mathstudent55 · Answer

The second question is:

What is 

$\LARGE x^3 + x^3 + x^3 + x^3 = $

mathstudent55 · Answer

This is a completely different question.
Here you need to add terms together.
You can only add like terms together. Like terms have the same variables and the same exponents. You see that you have 4 terms. All of them are the same, x^3. That means all terms are like terms. You can add them together.

$\LARGE x^3 + x^3 + x^3 + x^3 = 1x^3 + 1x^3 + 1x^3 + 1x^3 =$

$\LARGE =x^3(1 + 1 + 1 + 1) = x^3 \cdot 4 = 4x^3$

The first question's answer was  $\LARGE x^{12}$

Now you see that the answers are very different.