Multiply. 2m^4 x 8m^8?

Question

It should read....

2m 4 squared x 8m 8 squared.

I NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS ONE. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW TO WORK IT OUT.

Answer 1

2m^4 * 8m^8

Multiply your coefficients first:
2 * 8 = 16

Then multiply your bases...
m^4 * m^8 = m^12

The final answer is 16m^12

The rule is when you multiply numbers with the same base you *add* the exponents.

For example 2^2 * 2^3 = 2^5
You can confirm this by figuring each one out:
2^2 * 2^3 = 2^5
4 * 8 = 32

Everytime I forget the rule, I try it out with powers of 2...

Also, you don't say "4 squared" or "8 squared", you say "to the 4th power" or "to the 8th power".

2^4 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
2^8 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
2^4 * 2^8 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 2^12

Answer 2

first of all its not 4 squared or 8 squared.. its to the power of 4 or to the power of 8
you times the numbers together and add the powers
so its 16m^12