SOLUTION: Can a^3*b^4 be simplifed? Explain your answer.

Question 279907: Can a^3*b^4 be simplifed? Explain your answer.

Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, mananth:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
"Simplified" is not a clearly defined term.
Can a^3*b^4 be simplifed?
It can be expressed as

Is that more simplified than ?
a^3b^4 has fewer terms, but a larger exponent, and the sum of the exponents is 7 vs 4.
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For this to have a definitive answer, "simplify" has to be defined.

Answer by mananth(16949) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a and b are different terms they cannot be multiplied into one term or simplified.
Foe example if there are 5 apples and 6 mangoes in a basket you can neither say there are 11 mangoes nor can you say there are 11 apples. You have to say there 11 fruits.
a^3*b^4 is like the word fruits.
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