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Comment on Fraction with Products of Powers
Why do you not FOIL the
FOIL only applies to the
FOIL only applies to the product of binomials in the form (a+b) or (a-b). For more on this, see: https://www.greenlighttestprep.com/module/gre-algebra-and-equation-solvi...
In this question, we have the product of two products (not binomials). Try applying the FOIL method to (2x3)(5x5), and you'll see why it doesn't work with the product of two products)
Thanks for this FOIL
Thanks!
Thanks!
I am not understanding the
Thanks for the kind word,
Thanks for the kind word, auroraflynn!
You're referring to the step that occurs at 1:25 in the above video.
When we're at the point where we have 20 x 10^-40, we should check the answer choices . . . that value is not there.
In fact, all of the answer choices are in the form 2 x 10^something
Given this, we might recognize that we can rewrite 20 as 2 x 10
Since 10 is the same as 10^1, we can write: 20 = 2 x 10^1
Once we replace 20 with 2 x 10^1, can then apply the Product Law to combine the 10^1 and the 10^-40 to get 10^-39
Does that help?
Cheers,
Brent
Hey Brent,
At this point, shouldn't we be able to divide 20 x 10^-40 by 10 to get the same result? However based on division of exponent rules, 20 x 10^-40/10 = 2 x 10^-41. Not sure what error I'm making here. Thanks!
Hi Tatmanta,
Hi Tatmanta,
At 1:25 in the above video, we see that the given expression evaluates to be 20 x 10^(-40).
In other words, (8 x 10^-16)(5 x 10^-20)/(2 x 10^4) = 20 x 10^(-40).
So, 20 x 10^(-40) is the correct answer. The only problem is that this is not among the answer choices.
This means we need to find an EQUIVALENT way to express 20 x 10^(-40)
If we divide this value by 10, then our answer becomes 1/10 of what it should be.
This makes no sense, since 20 x 10^(-40)/10 is not equivalent to 20 x 10^(-40)
Here's an analogous example.
Let's say we want to evaluate 30 x 5.
We perform the necessary multiplication to get: 30 x 5 = 150
From here, let's divide 150 by 10 to get 15.
This is no good because 15 is not equal to 150.
Does that help?
This is likely very simple,
The associative property for
The associative property for multiplication says (ab)(cd) = (ac)(bd) [among other things]
So, we can write: (8 x 10^-16)(5 x 10^-20) = (8 x 5)(10^-16 x 10^-20)
= (40)(10^-36)
Does that help?
Cheers,
Brent
Yes, thank you. Just wanted
Good idea. It's always better
Good idea. It's always better to confirm your hunches than to wonder if you're making the right assumptions.
Cheers,
Brent
Hello, Why can't we follow
There are many different ways
There are many different ways we can solve this question.
One of those approaches could be applying the a^(-n) = 1/a^n rule initially.