Not adding exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 92 views

Introduction

In mathematics, simplifying expressions is a crucial skill that helps us solve complex problems and understand the underlying concepts. When dealing with exponents, we need to apply the rules of exponentiation to simplify the expression. In this article, we will focus on simplifying the expression $a^6 \times a^4 \div 2^2$ using the rules of exponentiation.

Understanding Exponents

Before we dive into simplifying the expression, let's review the basics of exponents. An exponent is a small number that is written above and to the right of a larger number, indicating how many times the larger number should be multiplied by itself. For example, $a^3$ means $a$ multiplied by itself three times, or $a \times a \times a$ . When we multiply two numbers with the same base, we add their exponents. For example, $a^3 \times a^4 = a^{3+4} = a^7$ .

Simplifying the Expression

Now that we have a basic understanding of exponents, let's simplify the expression $a^6 \times a^4 \div 2^2$ . To simplify this expression, we need to apply the rules of exponentiation. When we multiply two numbers with the same base, we add their exponents. In this case, we have $a^6$ and $a^4$ , both of which have the same base $a$ . Therefore, we can add their exponents: $a^6 \times a^4 = a^{6+4} = a^{10}$ .

Dividing by a Power of 2

Now that we have simplified the expression to $a^{10}$ , we need to divide it by $2^2$ . When we divide two numbers with the same base, we subtract their exponents. In this case, we have $a^{10}$ and $2^2$ , but the base is different. However, we can rewrite $2^2$ as $\frac{2^2}{1}$ , which allows us to divide the expression by $2^2$ . Therefore, we can rewrite the expression as $\frac{a^{10}}{2^2}$ .

Simplifying the Fraction

Now that we have rewritten the expression as a fraction, we can simplify it further. When we divide a number by a power of 2, we can rewrite the expression as a fraction with a power of 2 in the denominator. In this case, we have $\frac{a^{10}}{2^2}$ . To simplify this fraction, we can rewrite the numerator as a power of 2 multiplied by the base $a$ . Therefore, we can rewrite the expression as $\frac{a^{10}}{2^2} = \frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Conclusion

In conclusion, simplifying the expression $a^6 \times a^4 \div 2^2$ requires us to apply the rules of exponentiation. We need to add the exponents of the two numbers with the same base, and then divide the resulting expression by $2^2$ . By rewriting the expression as a fraction and simplifying it further, we can arrive at the final answer: $\frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Final Answer

The final answer to the expression $a^6 \times a^4 \div 2^2$ is $\frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When simplifying expressions with exponents, there are several common mistakes to avoid. Here are a few:

Not adding exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base: When multiplying two numbers with the same base, we need to add their exponents. For example, $a^3 \times a^4 = a^{3+4} = a^7$ .
Not subtracting exponents when dividing numbers with the same base: When dividing two numbers with the same base, we need to subtract their exponents. For example, $\frac{a^3}{a^4} = a^{3-4} = a^{-1}$ .
Not rewriting expressions as fractions: When dividing an expression by a power of 2, we can rewrite the expression as a fraction with a power of 2 in the denominator. For example, $\frac{a^{10}}{2^2} = \frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Tips for Simplifying Expressions

Here are a few tips for simplifying expressions with exponents:

Use the rules of exponentiation: When simplifying expressions with exponents, we need to apply the rules of exponentiation. These rules include adding exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base, subtracting exponents when dividing numbers with the same base, and rewriting expressions as fractions when dividing by a power of 2.
Simplify the expression step by step: When simplifying an expression with exponents, we need to break it down into smaller steps. This will help us avoid mistakes and ensure that we arrive at the correct answer.
Check your work: When simplifying an expression with exponents, we need to check our work to ensure that we have arrived at the correct answer. This will help us catch any mistakes and ensure that we have simplified the expression correctly.

Real-World Applications

Simplifying expressions with exponents has many real-world applications. Here are a few examples:

Science and engineering: In science and engineering, we often need to simplify expressions with exponents to solve complex problems. For example, when calculating the trajectory of a projectile, we may need to simplify an expression with exponents to arrive at the correct answer.
Finance: In finance, we often need to simplify expressions with exponents to calculate interest rates and investment returns. For example, when calculating the interest rate on a loan, we may need to simplify an expression with exponents to arrive at the correct answer.
Computer science: In computer science, we often need to simplify expressions with exponents to optimize algorithms and data structures. For example, when optimizing a database query, we may need to simplify an expression with exponents to arrive at the correct answer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, simplifying expressions with exponents is a crucial skill that has many real-world applications. By applying the rules of exponentiation and simplifying expressions step by step, we can arrive at the correct answer and solve complex problems. Whether we are working in science and engineering, finance, or computer science, simplifying expressions with exponents is an essential skill that we need to master.

Introduction

In our previous article, we simplified the expression $a^6 \times a^4 \div 2^2$ using the rules of exponentiation. In this article, we will answer some common questions related to simplifying expressions with exponents.

Q&A

Q: What is the rule for multiplying numbers with the same base?

A: When multiplying two numbers with the same base, we add their exponents. For example, $a^3 \times a^4 = a^{3+4} = a^7$ .

Q: What is the rule for dividing numbers with the same base?

A: When dividing two numbers with the same base, we subtract their exponents. For example, $\frac{a^3}{a^4} = a^{3-4} = a^{-1}$ .

Q: How do I simplify an expression with exponents?

A: To simplify an expression with exponents, we need to apply the rules of exponentiation. We add exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base, subtract exponents when dividing numbers with the same base, and rewrite expressions as fractions when dividing by a power of 2.

Q: What is the difference between a power of 2 and a power of 10?

A: A power of 2 is a number that can be expressed as $2^n$ , where $n$ is a positive integer. For example, $2^3 = 8$ . A power of 10 is a number that can be expressed as $10^n$ , where $n$ is a positive integer. For example, $10^3 = 1000$ .

Q: How do I simplify an expression with a power of 2 in the denominator?

A: To simplify an expression with a power of 2 in the denominator, we can rewrite the expression as a fraction with a power of 2 in the numerator. For example, $\frac{a^{10}}{2^2} = \frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Q: What is the rule for simplifying a fraction with a power of 2 in the denominator?

A: To simplify a fraction with a power of 2 in the denominator, we can rewrite the numerator as a power of 2 multiplied by the base. For example, $\frac{a^{10}}{4} = \frac{a^{10}}{2^2} = \frac{a^{10}}{2^2} \times \frac{2^2}{2^2} = \frac{a^{10} \times 2^2}{2^4} = \frac{a^{10} \times 4}{16}$ .

Q: How do I simplify an expression with a power of 10 in the denominator?

A: To simplify an expression with a power of 10 in the denominator, we can rewrite the expression as a fraction with a power of 10 in the numerator. For example, $\frac{a^{10}}{10^2} = \frac{a^{10}}{100}$ .

Q: What is the rule for simplifying a fraction with a power of 10 in the denominator?

A: To simplify a fraction with a power of 10 in the denominator, we can rewrite the numerator as a power of 10 multiplied by the base. For example, $\frac{a^{10}}{100} = \frac{a^{10}}{10^2} = \frac{a^{10} \times 10^2}{10^4} = \frac{a^{10} \times 100}{10000}$ .

Conclusion

Final Answer

The final answer to the expression $a^6 \times a^4 \div 2^2$ is $\frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When simplifying expressions with exponents, there are several common mistakes to avoid. Here are a few:

Not adding exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base: When multiplying two numbers with the same base, we need to add their exponents. For example, $a^3 \times a^4 = a^{3+4} = a^7$ .
Not subtracting exponents when dividing numbers with the same base: When dividing two numbers with the same base, we need to subtract their exponents. For example, $\frac{a^3}{a^4} = a^{3-4} = a^{-1}$ .
Not rewriting expressions as fractions: When dividing an expression by a power of 2, we can rewrite the expression as a fraction with a power of 2 in the denominator. For example, $\frac{a^{10}}{2^2} = \frac{a^{10}}{4}$ .

Tips for Simplifying Expressions

Here are a few tips for simplifying expressions with exponents:

Use the rules of exponentiation: When simplifying expressions with exponents, we need to apply the rules of exponentiation. These rules include adding exponents when multiplying numbers with the same base, subtracting exponents when dividing numbers with the same base, and rewriting expressions as fractions when dividing by a power of 2.
Simplify the expression step by step: When simplifying an expression with exponents, we need to break it down into smaller steps. This will help us avoid mistakes and ensure that we arrive at the correct answer.
Check your work: When simplifying an expression with exponents, we need to check our work to ensure that we have arrived at the correct answer. This will help us catch any mistakes and ensure that we have simplified the expression correctly.

Real-World Applications

Simplifying expressions with exponents has many real-world applications. Here are a few examples:

Science and engineering: In science and engineering, we often need to simplify expressions with exponents to solve complex problems. For example, when calculating the trajectory of a projectile, we may need to simplify an expression with exponents to arrive at the correct answer.
Finance: In finance, we often need to simplify expressions with exponents to calculate interest rates and investment returns. For example, when calculating the interest rate on a loan, we may need to simplify an expression with exponents to arrive at the correct answer.
Computer science: In computer science, we often need to simplify expressions with exponents to optimize algorithms and data structures. For example, when optimizing a database query, we may need to simplify an expression with exponents to arrive at the correct answer.