Question

Which could be the first step and simplifying this expression? Check all that apply.

Answer 1

$\bf \left( x^3x^{-6} \right)^2\implies \left( x^{3-6} \right)^2\implies \stackrel{1st~Step}{\left( x^{-3} \right)^2}\implies x^{-6}\implies \cfrac{1}{x^6}\\ \qquad \Downarrow\\ \stackrel{\textit{distributing the exponent}}{\left( x^{3\cdot 2}x^{-6\cdot 2} \right)}\\ \qquad \Downarrow\\ \stackrel{1st~Step}{x^6x^{-12}}\\ \qquad \Downarrow\\ x^{6-12}\\ \qquad \Downarrow\\ x^{-6}\\ \qquad \Downarrow\\ \cfrac{1}{x^6}$