Question

2. 2x^5 * -4x^-3how do you solve this for exponents?

Answer 1

Simplifying:

$\begin{gathered} 2x^5\cdot-4x^{-3} \\ \rightarrow2\cdot-4\cdot x^5\cdot x^{-3} \\ \rightarrow-8\cdot x^5\cdot\frac{1}{x^3} \\ \rightarrow-8\cdot\frac{x^5}{x^3} \\ \rightarrow-8x^2 \end{gathered}$