Question

Simplify (x^4y)^3. x^12y^3 x^4y^3 x^7y^3

Answer 1

Answer: Choice A,  x^12y^3

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Explanation:

Think of x^4y as x^4y^1. When we raise this to the third power, we multiply the outer exponent 3 by each inner exponent

x^4 turns into x^12

y^1 turns into y^3

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This is one way to show your work

(x^4y)^3

(x^4y^1)^3

x^(4*3)*y^(1*3) ... multiplying outer exponent by each inner exponent

x^12y^3

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A more lengthy way to get the answer is to write x^4y out three times multiplying by itself that many times. The outer exponent 3 tells us we will have three copies of x^4y multiplied with itself.

(x^4y)^3 = (x^4y)*(x^4y)*(x^4y)

(x^4y)^3 = (x^4*x^4*x^4)*(y*y*y)

(x^4y)^3 = ( x^(4+4+4) ) * ( y^(1+1+1) )

(x^4y)^3 = x^12y^3