(2fg2)3(fg)4 Give every factor inside a parentheses the exponent 1 if it does not have an exponent showing, whether it is a number or a letter: (21f1g2)3(f1g1)4 Remove the parentheses by multiplying every inside exponent by the outside exponent: 21*3f1*3g2*3f1*4g1*4 23f3g6f4g4 Change the 23 to 2*2*2=8 8f3g6f4g4 Add the exponents of the f's Add the exponents of the g's 8f3+4g6+4 8f7g10 Edwin