Question

Simplify (-2ab^2b) • (4a^5b^2)

Answer 1

Answer:

$-8a^{6} b^{4}$

Step-by-step explanation:

okay, to start, lets rewrite this so there are no weird symbols:

$(-2ab^{2} )(4a^{5} b^{2} )$

so, we are going to multiply the coefficients first. ( -2 times 4)

we get -8. now, when you multiply variables that have exponents, we actually add the exponents. remember it is like terms, so a goes with a and b goes with b.  so, the $a$ times $a^{5}$ would equal $a^{6}$. (because a is the same thing as $a^{1}$).

now lets look at b. $b^{2}$ times $b^{2}$ would equal $b^{4}$. so, because we have multiplied the parentheses, lets look at what we have. we have -8, $a^{6}$, and $b^{4}$. we need to remember that these were originally multiplied by each other, so we are going to write it that way. $-8a^{6} b^{4}$. we always write coefficients first, and then the variables in the order of the alphabet. i hope this helps and have a great day!