Final answer:
In mathematics, when multiplying two terms with the same exponent, such as ax * bx, the bases are multiplied and the common exponent is kept, resulting in (ab)x. The other expressions, abx or abx2, are incorrect in this context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked involves the properties of exponents in mathematics. When you have ax * bx, the correct way to combine these terms is by recognizing that both 'a' and 'b' are being raised to the 'x' power separately. According to the rules of exponents, you can combine the bases while keeping the exponent the same. Therefore, ax * bx is equal to (ab)x, not abx2.
To better understand, let's use a simpler analogous rule: (xa)b = xa*b. Here, when we raise a power to another power, we multiply the exponents. However, when we multiply two terms with the same exponent, the bases are multiplied and the common exponent is maintained.