Final answer:
To simplify 2^2 \u2022 3^5, calculate each exponent separately (2^2 = 4 and 3^5 = 243) and then multiply the results (4 \u00d7 243 = 972). The correct answer is 972 (Option 4).
Step-by-step explanation:
The question requires us to simplify the expression 2^2 \u2022 3^5. We'll break it down step by step.
First, let's handle the exponents separately:
- 2^2 is 2 multiplied by itself, which equals 4.
- 3^5 is 3 multiplied by itself five times, which is 243 (3 \u00d7 3 \u00d7 3 \u00d7 3 \u00d7 3).
Now, we multiply these results together:
4 \u00d7 243 = 972
The correct option is Option 4: 972.