SOLUTION: Why does the distributive property of multiplication not apply to this problem? b^2(a^3b)^2+a^2(a^2b^2)^2 this problem =2a^6b^4 Shouldn't the terms on the outside of ( ) be multi

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: Why does the distributive property of multiplication not apply to this problem? b^2(a^3b)^2+a^2(a^2b^2)^2 this problem =2a^6b^4 Shouldn't the terms on the outside of ( ) be multi      Log On


   

Question 1044803: Why does the distributive property of multiplication not apply to this problem?
b^2(a^3b)^2+a^2(a^2b^2)^2 this problem =2a^6b^4
Shouldn't the terms on the outside of ( ) be multiplied by both terms inside resulting in
a^6b^2b^4+a^6a^2b^4 before being simplified? Why are the terms outside of ( ) only applied to the terms inside they share a variable with?
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

b%5E2%28a%5E3b%29%5E2%2Ba%5E2%28a%5E2b%5E2%29%5E2....since you multiply %28a%5E3b%29%5E2 by b%5E2 you first square what is in ( ); %28a%5E3b%29%5E2=%28a%5E3%29%5E2b%5E2=a%5E6b%5E2 and now both terms inside multiply by b%5E2 and you will have
b%5E2%28a%5E6b%5E2%29=a%5E6b%5E4
you do same with a%5E2%28a%5E2b%5E2%29%5E2
a%5E2%28a%5E2b%5E2%29%5E2=a%5E2%28a%5E4b%5E4%29=a%5E6b%5E4
so, you have b%5E2%28a%5E3b%29%5E2%2Ba%5E2%28a%5E2b%5E2%29%5E2=a%5E6b%5E4%2Ba%5E6b%5E4=2a%5E6b%5E4