www.VirtualNerd.com

How Do You Multiply Monomials?

Simplify the product of these monomials: (3a2)(2a2b)(2/3 • a2b3)

Summary

  1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
  2. Regroup terms using the associative property of multiplication
  3. 3 • 2 • 2/3 = 4
  4. We add the exponents together when multiplying variables, so...
  5. a2•a2•a2 = a2+2+2 = a6
  6. b•b3 = b1+3 = b4

Notes

    1. Since all we're doing is multiplying it doesn't matter what order we multiply in
    1. Since all we're doing is multiplying it doesn't matter what order we multiply in
    1. These are all like terms
    1. 'a' is a variable
    1. 'b' is a variable
    1. The first 3 cancels with the denominator leaving just 2 • 2 which is 4
    1. 'a' is a variable
    2. Since all these terms have the same base, 'a', we can just add up their exponents to multiply them together
    1. 'b' is a variable
    2. Since all these terms have the same base, 'b', we can just add up their exponents to multiply them together
    1. 'a' and 'b' are variables