Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Exponentiation
Exponentiation is a mathematical operation involving two numbers, the base and the exponent. The exponent indicates how many times the base is multiplied by itself. For example, in the expression a^n, 'a' is the base and 'n' is the exponent. Understanding how to apply exponent rules, such as multiplying powers or raising a power to a power, is essential for simplifying expressions.
Negative Exponents
Negative exponents represent the reciprocal of the base raised to the absolute value of the exponent. For instance, a^(-n) equals 1/(a^n). While this concept is not directly applicable in the given expression, recognizing how negative exponents work is crucial for simplifying expressions that may involve them in other contexts.
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Polynomial Expansion
Polynomial expansion involves multiplying out expressions that contain variables raised to powers. In the case of (-6x²)³, this requires applying the power of a product rule, which states that (ab)^n = a^n * b^n. This means that both the coefficient and the variable must be raised to the power of three, leading to a simplified polynomial expression.
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