How do you simplify #(- 3l^{2} w^{3)) ( 2l w^{4} )#?

1 Answer
Sep 28, 2016

#=-6l^3w^7#

Explanation:

Multiplication in Algebra is the easiest of all the operations.

#rarr# work with the signs. Odd number gives a negative sign
#rarr# multiply the numbers as you have always done
#rarr# add the indices of the like bases

Recall: #color(red)(x^4 = x xx x xx x xx x)#
and #color(red)(x^4) xx color(blue)(x^3) = color(red)(x xx x xx x xx x) xx color(blue)(x xx x xx x) = x^(4+3) = x^7#

#(- 3l^{2} w^{3)) xx ( 2l w^{4} )" "larr# multiplying two factors

#= -6xxl^2xxl xxw^3xxw^4" "larr# like bases together

#=-6l^3w^7#