SOLUTION: Suppose you are a math teacher and you have just taught a lesson on exponents. A student asks you to review some worked problems. Look over the problem and correct any mistakes.

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: Suppose you are a math teacher and you have just taught a lesson on exponents. A student asks you to review some worked problems. Look over the problem and correct any mistakes.       Log On


   

Question 950363: Suppose you are a math teacher and you have just taught a lesson on exponents. A student asks you to review some worked problems. Look over the problem and correct any mistakes. Explain the errors in the student's reasoning.

2x^2y * 3x^5y^2 = (2 * 3)(x^2*x^5)(y*y^2) = 6x^10y^2
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
2x%5E2%2Ay+%2A+3x%5E5%2Ay%5E2+
= %282+%2A+3%29%28x%5E2%2Ax%5E5%29%28y%2Ay%5E2%29....so far correct
= 6x%5E10y%5E2...this is incorrect, multiplying +%28x%5E2%2Ax%5E5%29 and %28y%2Ay%5E2%29 student broke basic exponent "product rule" when he/she multiplied exponents instead of adding them; the rule states: a%5Em%2Aa%5En=a%5E%28m%2Bn%29
so, right answer would be
=6x%5E7%2A+y%5E3