(4-1 + 2-1)2

I'll do it different from the way the other tutor did it, just
to illustrate another method:

Let's wait till later to apply the negative exponent property:
Let's write 4 as 22

[(22)-1 + 2-1]2

(2-2 + 2-1)2

(2-2 + 2-1)(2-2 + 2-1)

Us FOIL and add exponents to multiply

2-4 + 2-3 + 2-3 + 2-2

Combine the middle two terms as 2 of them

2-4 + 2×2-3 + 2-2

Add exponents in the middle term

2-4 + 2-2 + 2-2

Now the middle and last terms can be combined as two of them: 

2-4 + 2×2-2

Add exponents to simplify the second term:

2-4 + 2-1

Finally we apply the negative exponent property:

 + 

 + 

Get a LCD of 16

 +  

 + 



Edwin