Applying the Rules of Exponent Multiplication

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 111 views

Understanding the Problem

When simplifying an expression involving exponents, it's essential to remember the rules of exponent multiplication. The product of two exponential expressions with the same base is equal to the base raised to the sum of the exponents. In this case, we have three exponential expressions: $4k^9$ , $8k^3$ , and $k$ . Our goal is to simplify the expression by multiplying these three terms together.

Applying the Rules of Exponent Multiplication

To simplify the expression, we need to multiply the coefficients (the numbers in front of the variables) and add the exponents of the variables. Let's start by multiplying the coefficients:

$4 \times 8 = 32$
$k^9 \times k^3 = k^{9+3} = k^{12}$

Now, we can rewrite the expression as $32k^{12}$ . However, we still need to consider the last term, $k$ . Since $k$ can be written as $k^1$ , we can add the exponent to the existing expression:

$32k^{12} \times k^1 = 32k^{12+1} = 32k^{13}$

Therefore, the simplified expression is $32k^{13}$ .

Comparing the Simplified Expression with the Answer Choices

Now that we have simplified the expression, let's compare it with the answer choices:

A. $8k^{27}$ : This is not the simplified expression we obtained.
B. $8k^{12}$ : This is not the simplified expression we obtained.
C. $32k^{13}$ : This is the simplified expression we obtained.
D. $32k^{27}$ : This is not the simplified expression we obtained.

Based on our calculations, the correct answer is C. $32k^{13}$ .

Conclusion

Simplifying an expression involving exponents requires applying the rules of exponent multiplication. By multiplying the coefficients and adding the exponents of the variables, we can simplify the expression and obtain the correct answer. In this case, the simplified expression is $32k^{13}$ , which is the correct answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rule for multiplying exponential expressions with the same base?
- The product of two exponential expressions with the same base is equal to the base raised to the sum of the exponents.
How do you simplify an expression involving exponents?
- Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents of the variables.
What is the simplified expression for $4k^9 \times 8k^3 \times k$ $4 k^{9} \times 8 k^{3} \times k$ ?
- The simplified expression is $32k^{13}$ .

Final Answer

The final answer is C. $32k^{13}$ .