SOLUTION: Hi, I'm really confused as to how I should solve this problem, and I am not quite ready to trust the calculator, for I have used it in the past and have gotten questions wrong bec

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Hi, I'm really confused as to how I should solve this problem, and I am not quite ready to trust the calculator, for I have used it in the past and have gotten questions wrong bec      Log On


   

Question 577995: Hi,
I'm really confused as to how I should solve this problem, and I am not quite ready to trust the calculator, for I have used it in the past and have gotten questions wrong because of it.
Here is the problem: (3abc^3)^3(2ab^2)(a^-4*7b)
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It is just a bunch of factors multiplied, that can be multiplied in any order.
As for the exponents, in a power of a power, exponents are multiplied, as is
%28c%5E3%29%5E3=c%5E%283%2A3%29=c%5E9,
and in a product of powers of the same base, the exponents are added, as in
b%2Ab%5E2%2Ab=b%5E1%2Ab%5E2%2Ab%5E1=b%5E%281%2B2%2B1%29=b%5E4
The product simplifies like this:

The calculator probably correctly answered the question you asked, but you probably asked the wrong question, or did not use the same language the calculator uses.
I believe nowadays all calculators use algebraic notation. That means that they know enough algebra to understand that
20-10/5-3=20-10%2F5-3=20-2-3=15 and (20-10)/(5-3)=%2820-10%29%2F%285-3%29=10%2F2=5