how do you simplify (2b)^3(b^-4)

Question

 How do you simplify this problem

Answer 1

Hi Andrew,

You can treat the problem as 2 parts: 

 

(2b)to the third power means 2b * 2b * 2b which is 8b^3

 

When you multiply with like bases, the exponents may be added, such as x^3 * x^2 = x^5

 

Now 8b^3 * b^-4 becomes 8b^-1

 

Your teacher may want you to realize that b^-1 = 1/b,  if so, the problem becomes 8 * (1/b) or 8/b.

Yes, a lot of steps, but the more you do the problems, the easier it will become to smoothly go through the steps.

Hope this helped,

Mary Ann