How do you multiply 6a ^ -4 (a ^ 5 + 3x ^2 )?

1 Answer
Apr 14, 2015

The Distributive Property of Multiplication tells us that
color(blue)(a*(b+c) = a*b + a*c

6a ^ -4 (a ^ 5 + 3x ^2 )

= (6a ^ -4 *a ^ 5) + (6a ^ -4)(3x ^2 )

= {6*(a ^ -4 *a ^ 5) } + {(6*3)(a ^ -4)(x ^2 )}

color(blue)(a^m * a^n = a ^(m+n)

= {6*a ^ (-4 + 5) } + {18(a ^ -4)(x ^2 )}

= 6*a + {18(a ^ -4)(x ^2 )}

color(green)( = 6*a + 18(x ^2 / a^4)