Question

How do you simplify `(-5a^2b^7)^7`?

Answer 1

`-3125a^14b^49`

Explanation:

Since the whole thing is a multiplication, so there is only one term, you can distribute the power to each 'term' in the parentheses.

First of all, since there is a negative, and the power is an odd number, the result should also be negative.

Then you do `5^7` which equals `3125`.

Next you do `(a^2)^7`, and when you take a power to another exponent, you multiply the exponents, which gets you `a^14`.

Same applies to `(b^7)^7`. This will give you `b^49`.

Therefore, you have `-3125a^14b^49`.