document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=5371>Question 5371</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have a problem solving this?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(3x-7)exponent 4 . (3x-7)exponent -4 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #2718 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><B>rapaljer(4671)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=rapaljer><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=2718\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Do you mean to multiply: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283x-7%29%5E4+%2A+%283x-+7%29%5E%28-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283x-7%29%5E4+%2A+%283x-+7%29%5E%28-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If this is indeed the question, there are several ways to simplify it.  Do you remember the rule <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E3%2A+x%5E2+=+x%5E5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E3%2A+x%5E2+=+x%5E5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >?  The rule in words says that when you multiply two variables together with the same base number, you put down the base number, and then you add the exponents.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In the case of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283x-7%29%5E4+%2A+%283x-+7%29%5E%28-4%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283x-7%29%5E4+%2A+%283x-+7%29%5E%28-4%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, the base number is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%283x-7%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%283x-7%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, and the base number is the same, so put down the base number, and add the exponents:  4 + (-4).  This gives you <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%283x-7%29+%5E0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%283x-7%29+%5E0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, but any non-zero number raised to the zero power is 1.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the final answer is 1.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Another approach is to eliminate the negative exponent by writing <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%283x-7%29+%5E%28-4%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%283x-7%29+%5E%28-4%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as the fraction <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F+%28%28+3x-7%29%5E4%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F+%28%28+3x-7%29%5E4%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then what you have is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%283x-7%29%5E4+%2A+%281%2F+%28%28+3x-7%29%5E4%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%283x-7%29%5E4+%2A+%281%2F+%28%28+3x-7%29%5E4%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, which as you can probably see, everything divides out, and what is left is 1.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Gee, after all this I hope I answered the right question.  If not, try again!!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R^2 at SCC </SPAN>\n" );
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