Simplify each expression. See Example 1. (½ mn) (8m²n²)
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Identify the expression to simplify: \((\frac{1}{2} mn)(8m^{2}n^{2})\).
Apply the associative property of multiplication to group the coefficients and variables separately: \((\frac{1}{2} \times 8) \times (m \times m^{2}) \times (n \times n^{2})\).
Multiply the numerical coefficients: \(\frac{1}{2} \times 8\).
Use the laws of exponents to combine like bases: \(m^{1} \times m^{2} = m^{1+2} = m^{3}\) and \(n^{1} \times n^{2} = n^{1+2} = n^{3}\).
Write the simplified expression by combining the results from the previous steps: (result of coefficient multiplication) \(m^{3} n^{3}\).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Multiplication of Algebraic Expressions
This involves multiplying coefficients (numerical parts) and variables separately. When multiplying variables with exponents, you add the exponents if the bases are the same. For example, m × m² = m³.
When multiplying powers with the same base, add their exponents: a^m × a^n = a^(m+n). This rule helps simplify expressions like m × m² into m³, making it easier to combine terms.
Multiply the numerical coefficients separately from the variables. For example, (1/2) × 8 = 4. Simplifying coefficients first helps reduce the expression before combining variable terms.