Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Exponents and Negative Exponents
Exponents represent repeated multiplication of a base number. A negative exponent indicates the reciprocal of the base raised to the absolute value of the exponent. For example, r^-2 can be rewritten as 1/r^2. Understanding how to manipulate negative exponents is crucial for simplifying expressions correctly.
Recommended video:
Power of a Power Rule
The power of a power rule states that when raising a power to another power, you multiply the exponents. For instance, (r^4)^2 simplifies to r^(4*2) or r^8. This rule is essential for simplifying expressions involving exponents, especially when multiple exponent rules are applied together.
Recommended video:
Combining Like Terms
Combining like terms involves simplifying expressions by adding or subtracting terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. In the expression -4r^-2(r^4)^2, after applying the power of a power rule, you will combine the resulting terms to achieve a simplified form. This concept is fundamental in algebra for reducing expressions to their simplest form.
Recommended video: