Question

How do you use laws of exponents to simplify `(-mn^8)^2`?

Answer 1

`=color(green)(−m^2n^16`

Explanation:

`(−mn^8)^color(blue)(2`

• As per property:
  `color(blue)((ab)^m =a^m * b^m`

Applying the same property to the expression, the exponent `color(blue)(2` is multiplied with each term within the bracket.

`=(−m^color(blue)(2))(n^(8 * color(blue)(2)))`

`=color(green)(−m^2n^16`