Question

How do you simplify `-3a * a^2`?

Answer 1

`-3 * a^(1+2) = -3 * a^3` or just `-3a^3`

Explanation:

Since `a` is a common base for the exponentiation, we must look it this way:

`-3 * a^1 * a^2`

To simplify it, just add the exponentiation from both bases(since both are "a", equal bases), like this:

`-3 * a^(1+2) = -3 * a^3` or just `-3a^3`