Answer:
No
Explanation:
An exponent signifies the number of times the base is a factor in the product. When products involving the same base are multiplied, the total number of factors is the sum of the number in each of those products.
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![5^2=5\cdot5\\\\5^9=5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\\\\5^2\cdot5^9=(5\cdot5)\cdot(5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5)=5^(11)](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/high-school/ag1u4t1z1qrafqcnpwy74ngj59mdq7hqba.png)
The base of the exponent in the product is the value that is a repeated factor. It is 5, not (5·5).
Your friend is not correct.
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The general rule for exponents is ...
(a^b)(a^c) = a^(b+c)