Question

Jose simplified the expression 5^3 x 2^3 and wrote 7^3. Did he simplify the expression correctly? How do you know? If Jose made an error, identify it, and fix the mistake.

Answer 1

In order to multiply these expressions, since they have the same exponent, adding the bases is not the correct procedure (the bases should be multiplied instead), so Jose didn't simplify correctly.

The mistake is adding the bases of each expression, instead of multiplying them.

The correct result of the expression is:

`5^3\cdot2^3=(5\cdot2)^3=10^3=1000^{}`

So the result is 1000.