How do you simplify (-5a^2b^7)^7?

1 Answer
Sep 24, 2015

-3125a^14b^49

Explanation:

Since the whole thing is a multiplication, so there is only one term, you can distribute the power to each 'term' in the parentheses.

First of all, since there is a negative, and the power is an odd number, the result should also be negative.

Then you do 5^7 which equals 3125.

Next you do (a^2)^7, and when you take a power to another exponent, you multiply the exponents, which gets you a^14.

Same applies to (b^7)^7. This will give you b^49.

Therefore, you have -3125a^14b^49.