Quant Exponents Question!

[PreDentTechySon]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

How is it that if you are multiplying two numbers with differing exponents, the general formula is (x^a)(x^b) = x^(a+b), but when you multiply two numbers with the same exponent, the general formula is (a^x)(b^x)=(ab^x)?

Do you only add the exponents together if you are multiplying two numbers with two different exponents?

I could not figure this one out.

Thanks!!

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Add the exponents if the bases are the same. E.g. (2^3) * (2^2) = 2^5
Multiply the bases together if the exponents are the same. E.g. (2^6) * (3^6) = 6^6

The key is that you cannot add the exponents together if their base numbers are different, and you cannot multiply the bases together if the exponent numbers are different.

 

[PreDentTechySon]

Gotcha. That is very helpful.

Thank you FeralisExtremum!

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Hey all,

How is it that if you are multiplying two numbers with differing exponents, the general formula is (x^a)(x^b) = x^(a+b), but when you multiply two numbers with the same exponent, the general formula is (a^x)(b^x)=(ab^x)?

Do you only add the exponents together if you are multiplying two numbers with two different exponents?

I could not figure this one out.

Thanks!!

If you multiply 2 numbers with different bases and same exponent, here is the rule:

(a^x)(b^x)=(ab)^x