Why cant exponents be added in the product 12 to the 3rd power times 11 to the 3rd power
1 answer:
Remember
the key is that the base is the same
(12³)(11³) cannot be added
you have to understand how exponents work
12³=12*12*12
11³=11*11*11
so
if we had (12³)(11³), that is equal to 12*12*12*11*11*11
if we tried to add the expoennts, we would get 6, but would it be 12⁶ or 11⁶?
neither
so that's why the exponents can't be added, it's because they have different bases. we need to have the same base to add exponents
the key is that the base is the same
(12³)(11³) cannot be added
you have to understand how exponents work
12³=12*12*12
11³=11*11*11
so
if we had (12³)(11³), that is equal to 12*12*12*11*11*11
if we tried to add the expoennts, we would get 6, but would it be 12⁶ or 11⁶?
neither
so that's why the exponents can't be added, it's because they have different bases. we need to have the same base to add exponents
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