Question

Diego was trying to write 2^3 · 2^2 with a single exponent and wrote 2^3·2^2 = 2^3*2 = 2^6 . Explain to Diego what his mistake was and what the answer should be.

Answer 1

2^3·2^2 = 2^3+2 = 2^5

Explanation:

Diego was trying to write 2^3 · 2^2

He wrote 2^3·2^2 = 2^3*2 = 2^6

But this is wrong because when bases are same exponents are added.

This is the law of exponents.

The correct form would be

2^3·2^2 = 2^3+2 = 2^5

For understanding it better we can write it like this

2^3·2^2 =

There are 3 two and 2 twos .When totaled there are 5 two not 6 twos.