Use the Product Property for Exponents to explain why x · x = x^2.

Question

asked May 22, 2023 43.1k views

1 Answer

Whobutsb · Answer 1 · 2023-05-27T11:08:14+0000

The Product Property for Exponents is as follows:

$a^b\cdot a^c=a^(b+c)$

So, when we have:

$x\cdot x$

We have no exponents, but actually the exponent is implied to be 1 in this case. So:

$x\cdot x=x^1\cdot x^1$

Now, applying the Product Property for Exponents:

$x\cdot x=x^1\cdot x^1=x^(1+1)=x^2$