How do you simplify #3p^4*p^2#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-06-27T00:07:09

#3p^6#

When we multiply exponents with the same base, we add the exponents. This allows us to rewrite this as

#3p^(4+2)#

which simplifies to

#3p^6#

Another way we could think about this is we essentially have

#3color(blue)(p^4)*color(purple)(p^2)#

#3*color(blue)(p*p*p*p)*color(purple)(p*p)#

In this expression, we are multiplying #p# #6# times. This is our exponent on #p#. Also, be mindful of the #3# out front.

Hope this helps!