<h3>Answer:</h3>
p^(m+n) . . . . . . . parentheses are required
<h3>Explanation:</h3>
The answer follows directly from the rules of exponents:
... (a^b)×(a^c) = a^(b+c)
Here, you have a=p, b=m, c=n, so
... (p^m)×(p^n) = p^(m+n)
_____
<em>Where the rule comes from</em>
An exponent sigifies <em>repeated multiplication</em>. That is ...
... p^3 = p·p·p . . . . . . . the exponent means p is a factor 3 times
... p^2 = p·p . . . . . . . . .the exponent means p is a factor 2 times
When we multiply these terms together, we have ...
... (p^3)×(p^2) = (p·p·p)×(p·p) = p·p·p·p·p = p^(2+3) = p^5
The number of times p is a factor of the product is the total of the number of times p is a factor in the factors of the product.
