Question

I would like to know what the answer to this is (-2x^2y^7)^2

My teacher doesn't explain this in a way to where I can answer it.

Answer 1

4x⁴y¹⁴

Explanation:

When you have an expression in parentheses that is being raised to a power of any value where n ≠ 0, you distribute the exponent to every number enclosed.

(-2x²y⁷)²

Distributing to a number that is not already being raised by an exponent will be raised to the given power:

-2² = 4

4(x²y⁷)²

When distributing an exponent to a number that is already being raised to a given power, multiply the two exponents:

(x²)² = x²ˣ² = x⁴

(y⁷)² = y⁷ˣ² = y¹⁴

4x⁴y¹⁴

The simplified expression of (-2x²y⁷)² is 4x⁴y¹⁴.