How do you simplify and write b^8(2b)^4 with positive exponents?

1 Answer
Jul 19, 2016

b^8(2b)^4=16b^12

Explanation:

You can look at it this way, in case you ever want to come up with your own formulas:
(2b)^4=2b*2b*2b*2b=16b^4
Or more generally, (ab)^n=a^nb^n
Next,
(b^8)(b^4)=(b*b*b*b*b*b*b*b)(b*b*b*b)
By associativity, we now have:
b^12
Hence, more generally, we have a^m*a^n=a^(m+n)
Thus, we get b^8(2b)^4=16b^12