# Math Help - Can someone help me with exponents

1. ## Can someone help me with exponents

I need help for this problem:

a^2(ab^3)^2 * b^2(a^2b^2)^2

and would someone be nice enough to explain how I should solve these problems the next time I encounter them?

Sorry about the "superscripts", I know how to do those now, thanks to Xavier20.
.
Thanks.

They are all exponents. (^)

2. Uhm. Do you mean that those are all multiplications, or were any of those exponents?

If you want to represent an exponent, use an ^ symbol.

2^2 = 2x2=4

3. Originally Posted by limejelly
I need help for this problem:

a^2(ab^3)^2 * b^2(a^2b^2)^2

and would someone be nice enough to explain how I should solve these problems the next time I encounter them?...
Hello,

I'm not certain if you mean this(?):

$a^2 \cdot (ab^3)^2 \cdot b^2 \cdot (a^2b^2)^2$. If so, then expand the brackets first:

$a^2 \cdot (a^2 b^6) \cdot b^2 \cdot (a^4 b^4)$.

$a^2 \cdot a^2 \cdot b^6 \cdot b^2 \cdot a^4 \cdot b^4$. Collect all powers(?) with the same base:

$a^{2+2+4} \cdot b^{6+2+4}=a^{8} \cdot b^{12}$

EB

4. ## oh

Thank you. With your help, I now can get those problems right on the math quiz!