Multiplying the Simplified Expressions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 41 views

Introduction

In this article, we will simplify the given mathematical expression: $${ (-2)^4 \times (-2) \times (-2)^2 }$$. This expression involves exponentiation, multiplication, and simplification of negative numbers. We will break down the solution into manageable steps, making it easy to understand and follow.

Understanding Exponents

Before we dive into the solution, let's quickly review the concept of exponents. An exponent is a small number that is raised to the power of a larger number. In the given expression, we have three instances of exponents: $(-2)^4$ , $(-2)^2$ , and $(-2)$ . We will simplify each of these instances separately.

Simplifying $(-2)^4$

To simplify $(-2)^4$ , we need to raise $-2$ to the power of $4$ . This means we need to multiply $-2$ by itself four times:

$(-2)^4 = (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2)$

Using the rule of multiplication, we can simplify this expression as follows:

$(-2)^4 = (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) \times (-2) = 16$

So, $(-2)^4 = 16$ .

Simplifying $(-2)^2$

To simplify $(-2)^2$ , we need to raise $-2$ to the power of $2$ . This means we need to multiply $-2$ by itself twice:

$(-2)^2 = (-2) \times (-2)$

Using the rule of multiplication, we can simplify this expression as follows:

$(-2)^2 = (-2) \times (-2) = 4$

So, $(-2)^2 = 4$ .

Simplifying $(-2)$

The expression $(-2)$ is already simplified. It is equal to $-2$ .

Multiplying the Simplified Expressions

Now that we have simplified each of the expressions, we can multiply them together:

$(-2)^4 \times (-2) \times (-2)^2 = 16 \times (-2) \times 4$

Using the rule of multiplication, we can simplify this expression as follows:

$16 \times (-2) \times 4 = -128$

So, the final simplified expression is $-128$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we simplified the given mathematical expression: $${ (-2)^4 \times (-2) \times (-2)^2 }$$. We broke down the solution into manageable steps, making it easy to understand and follow. We reviewed the concept of exponents, simplified each of the expressions, and multiplied them together to get the final answer. The final simplified expression is $-128$ .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rule of multiplication? The rule of multiplication states that when we multiply two or more numbers together, we can multiply them in any order and get the same result.
How do we simplify negative numbers? To simplify negative numbers, we can use the rule of multiplication and the concept of exponents.
What is the final simplified expression? The final simplified expression is $-128$ .

Additional Resources

Khan Academy: Exponents and Exponential Functions
Mathway: Simplifying Expressions with Exponents
Wolfram Alpha: Simplifying Expressions with Exponents

References

"Algebra and Trigonometry" by Michael Sullivan
"Mathematics for the Nonmathematician" by Morris Kline
"Calculus" by Michael Spivak
Simplify the Expression: A Q&A Guide =====================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we simplified the given mathematical expression: $${ (-2)^4 \times (-2) \times (-2)^2 }$$. We broke down the solution into manageable steps, making it easy to understand and follow. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the topic.

Q&A

Q: What is the rule of multiplication?

A: The rule of multiplication states that when we multiply two or more numbers together, we can multiply them in any order and get the same result.

Q: How do we simplify negative numbers?

A: To simplify negative numbers, we can use the rule of multiplication and the concept of exponents. We can also use the fact that a negative number multiplied by a negative number is a positive number.

Q: What is the difference between $(-2)^4$ and $(-2)^2$ ?

A: $(-2)^4$ is equal to $16$ , while $(-2)^2$ is equal to $4$ . The difference between the two is that $(-2)^4$ has a higher exponent, which means it is raised to a higher power.

Q: Can we simplify $(-2)^4$ and $(-2)^2$ separately?

A: Yes, we can simplify $(-2)^4$ and $(-2)^2$ separately. We can use the rule of multiplication to simplify each expression.

Q: How do we multiply negative numbers?

A: To multiply negative numbers, we can use the rule of multiplication. We can also use the fact that a negative number multiplied by a negative number is a positive number.

Q: What is the final simplified expression?

A: The final simplified expression is $-128$ .

Q: Can we use a calculator to simplify the expression?

A: Yes, we can use a calculator to simplify the expression. However, it is always a good idea to understand the concept behind the calculation.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying expressions?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying expressions include:

Not following the order of operations
Not using the correct exponent rules
Not simplifying negative numbers correctly

Q: How can we apply this concept to real-world problems?

A: We can apply this concept to real-world problems by using it to simplify complex expressions. For example, we can use it to calculate the area of a rectangle or the volume of a cube.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions related to simplifying expressions with exponents. We covered topics such as the rule of multiplication, simplifying negative numbers, and multiplying negative numbers. We also discussed some common mistakes to avoid and how to apply this concept to real-world problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rule of multiplication?
How do we simplify negative numbers?
What is the difference between $(-2)^4$ and $(-2)^2$ ?
Can we simplify $(-2)^4$ and $(-2)^2$ separately?
How do we multiply negative numbers?
What is the final simplified expression?
Can we use a calculator to simplify the expression?
What are some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying expressions?
How can we apply this concept to real-world problems?

Additional Resources

Khan Academy: Exponents and Exponential Functions
Mathway: Simplifying Expressions with Exponents
Wolfram Alpha: Simplifying Expressions with Exponents

References

"Algebra and Trigonometry" by Michael Sullivan
"Mathematics for the Nonmathematician" by Morris Kline
"Calculus" by Michael Spivak