Question

Simplify these expressions. a. –8p (–9p) (–2p) b. –3jk 5jk (–6jk)?

Answer 1

The simplified expression for part a is -144p^3 and for part b is 90j^3k^3. We obtain these results by multiplying coefficients and adding exponents for like terms.

Step-by-step explanation:

To simplify the given expressions, we need to apply the rules of algebra, specifically the rules for multiplying variables and dealing with signs.

For expression a: –8p (–9p) (–2p)

We multiply the coefficients and the variables separately. The coefficients are -8, -9, and -2. When we multiply these, we get:

• -8 × -9 = 72
• 72 × -2 = -144

For the variables (p), we add the exponents:

• p × p × p = p3

So the simplified expression for a is:

-144p3

For expression b: –3jk 5jk (–6jk)

Similarly, we multiply the coefficients:

• -3 × 5 = -15
• -15 × -6 = 90

And for the variables (jk), since all factors have the same variables, we add the exponents:

• jk × jk × jk = j3k3

The simplified expression for b is:

90j3k3

Remember to check if your final answer is reasonable. In this case, because we have only multiplied numbers and like terms together, we can be confident that our answers are correct.