Calculate (8×9×5×3)^(-2): Solving a Negative Exponent Problem

Question

(8×9×5×3)2= (8\times9\times5\times3)^{-2}=

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solve
00:02 When there is a power on a product of multiple terms, all terms are raised to that power
00:06 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

We begin by applying the power rule to the products within the parentheses:

(zt)n=zntn (z\cdot t)^n=z^n\cdot t^n

That is, the power applied to a product within parentheses is applied to each of the terms when the parentheses are opened,

We apply the rule to the given problem:

(8953)2=82925232 (8\cdot9\cdot5\cdot3)^{-2}=8^{-2}\cdot9^{-2}\cdot5^{-2}\cdot3^{-2}

Therefore, the correct answer is option c.

Note:

Whilst it could be understood that the above power rule applies only to two terms of the product within parentheses, in reality, it is also valid for the power over a multiplication of multiple terms within parentheses, as was seen in the above problem.

A good exercise is to demonstrate that if the previous property is valid for a power over a product of two terms within parentheses (as formulated above), then it is also valid for a power over several terms of the product within parentheses (for example - three terms, etc.).

Answer

82×92×52×32 8^{-2}\times9^{-2}\times5^{-2}\times3^{-2}