Question

Given that a=2 and b=3, what is (ab)^2

Answer 1

(ab)² = 36

Explanation:

Plug in 2 for a and 3 for b:

(2·3)²

Multiply 2 and 3:

6²

Square the number:

36

Answer 2

(ab)² is the same as writing:

(a x b)²

We know that a is 2 and that b is 3, so we substitute these into the expression:

(2 x 3)²

Then because of the Order of Operations we multiply INSIDE the brackets first:

(6)²

And when we square (²) a number we are simply multiplying it by itself:

(6)² = 6 x 6

So our final answer is:

6 x 6 = 36