Simplify y^(-2) × y^7: Laws of Exponents Practice

Question

y2×y7= y^{-2}\times y^7=

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Simply
00:02 When multiplying powers with equal bases
00:05 The power of the result equals the sum of the powers
00:08 We'll use this formula in our exercise, and add the powers

Step-by-Step Solution

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

bmbn=bm+n b^m\cdot b^n=b^{m+n} Note that we can only use this law to calculate multiplication performed between terms with identical bases,

Here in the problem there is also a term with a negative exponent, but this does not pose an issue regarding the use of the aforementioned 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.,

Let's apply it to the problem:

y2y7=y2+7=y5 y^{-2}\cdot y^7=y^{-2+7}=y^5 Therefore the correct answer is A.

Answer

y5 y^5