How to combine the given terms in simplest form?

Question

How do you solve:

(-xy)³(-2x²y³)⁴

Answer 1

1. Distribute the exponents

-(x)³(y)³(-2)⁴(x²)⁴(y³)⁴

2. Simplify exponents

-(x)³(y)³(16)(x)⁸(y)¹²

3. Combine like terms

-16(x³+x⁸)(y³+y¹²)

-16(x¹¹)(y¹⁵)

Answer 2

(-xy)³ = -x³y³, and does NOT = -xy³, since each term inside the ( ) must be cubed.

An exponent raised to another exponent is multiplied by that other exponent, so (y³)⁴ = y^3x4 = y¹².  

The exponents of the same terms are simply added:  (x)(x⁴) = x^5.       And (-2)4 = +16.

 So now the problem is (-x³y³) (16x⁸y¹²),  = -16x¹¹y¹⁵