Question

Which of the following is a step in simplifying the expression

Answer 1

The next step is to distribute the external exponent to the inside values.
When you multiply values like this:
(x^3)(x^3) you add the exponents so you get x^6
But in your question
(x^3)^3 you raised an exponent to an exponent, so you multiple the exponents.
You have more than one, so multiply each exponent for each value inside by 3.

Answer 2

Sorry, negative 3.