Question

Simplify (-2ab^2b) • (4a^5b^2)

Answer 1

`-8a^(6) b^(4)`

Explanation:

okay, to start, lets rewrite this so there are no weird symbols:

`(-2ab^(2) )(4a^(5) b^(2) )`

so, we are going to multiply the coefficients first. ( -2 times 4)

we get -8. now, when you multiply variables that have exponents, we actually add the exponents. remember it is like terms, so a goes with a and b goes with b. so, the
`a` times
`a^(5)` would equal
`a^(6)`. (because a is the same thing as
`a^(1)`).

now lets look at b.
`b^(2)` times
`b^(2)` would equal
`b^(4)`. so, because we have multiplied the parentheses, lets look at what we have. we have -8,
`a^(6)`, and
`b^(4)`. we need to remember that these were originally multiplied by each other, so we are going to write it that way.
`-8a^(6) b^(4)`. we always write coefficients first, and then the variables in the order of the alphabet. i hope this helps and have a great day!