Multiply and Simplify: b^(-3) × b^3 × b^4 × b^(-2) Expression

Question

b3×b3×b4×b2= b^{-3}\times b^3\times b^4\times b^{-2}=

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Simply put
00:03 When multiplying powers with equal bases
00:06 The exponent of the result equals the sum of the exponents
00:10 We'll use this formula in our exercise and add the exponents
00:18 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

Note that we need to calculate multiplication between terms with identical bases, so we'll use the appropriate exponent law:

aman=am+n a^m\cdot a^n=a^{m+n}

Note that this law is valid for any number of terms in multiplication and not just for two terms. For example, for multiplication of three terms with the same base we get:

amanak=am+nak=am+n+k a^m\cdot a^n\cdot a^k=a^{m+n}\cdot a^k=a^{m+n+k}

When we used the above exponent law twice, we can also perform the same calculation for four terms in multiplication five and so on...

Additionally, note that this law can only be used to calculate multiplication performed between terms with identical bases,

In this problem there are also terms with negative exponents, but this doesn't pose an issue regarding the use of the above exponent law. In fact, this exponent law is valid in all cases for numerical terms with different exponents, including negative exponents, rational number exponents, and even irrational number exponents, etc.

From here on we will no longer indicate the multiplication sign, but use the conventional writing form where placing terms next to each other means multiplication.

Let's return to the problem and apply the above law:

b3b3b4b2=b3+3+42=b2 b^{-3}b^3b^4b^{-2}=b^{-3+3+4-2}=b^2

Therefore the correct answer is B.

Answer

b2 b^2