How to multiply exponential variables - ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning
Card 1 of 188
Simplify:

Simplify:
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Expand: 
Expand:
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A binomial can be cubed using the pattern:

Set 



A binomial can be cubed using the pattern:
Set
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Multiply:

Multiply:
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This can be achieved by using the pattern of difference of squares:

![=\left [\left ( x + y \right ) + 3 \right ] \left [\left ( x + y \right ) - 3 \right ]](https://vt-vtwa-assets.varsitytutors.com/vt-vtwa/uploads/formula_image/image/104168/gif.latex)


Applying the binomial square pattern:

This can be achieved by using the pattern of difference of squares:
Applying the binomial square pattern:
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Factor completely:

Factor completely:
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A trinomial whose leading term has a coefficent other than 1 can be factored using the
-method. We split the middle term using two numbers whose product is
and whose sum is
. These numbers are
, so:





A trinomial whose leading term has a coefficent other than 1 can be factored using the -method. We split the middle term using two numbers whose product is
and whose sum is
. These numbers are
, so:
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Fill in the box to form a perfect square trinomial:

Fill in the box to form a perfect square trinomial:
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To obtain the constant term of a perfect square trinomial, divide the linear coefficient, which here is
, by 2, and square the quotient. The result is

To obtain the constant term of a perfect square trinomial, divide the linear coefficient, which here is , by 2, and square the quotient. The result is
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Simplify:

Simplify:
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The cube of a sum pattern can be applied here:




The cube of a sum pattern can be applied here:
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Fill in the box to form a perfect square trinomial:

Fill in the box to form a perfect square trinomial:
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To obtain the constant term of a perfect square trinomial, divide the linear coefficient, which here is
, by 2, and square the quotient. The result is

To obtain the constant term of a perfect square trinomial, divide the linear coefficient, which here is , by 2, and square the quotient. The result is
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Expand: 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The coefficient of 
(b) The coefficient of 
Expand:
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The coefficient of
(b) The coefficient of
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Using the Binomial Theorem, if
is expanded, the
term is

.
This makes
the coefficient of
.
We compare the values of this expression at
for both
and
:
(a) 
(b) 
(a) is the greater quantity.
Using the Binomial Theorem, if is expanded, the
term is
.
This makes the coefficient of
.
We compare the values of this expression at for both
and
:
(a)
(b)
(a) is the greater quantity.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 8
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 8
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Since
,
, so

making (a) greater.
Since ,
, so
making (a) greater.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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We show that either polynomial can be greater by giving two cases:
Case 1: 



Case 2: 



We show that either polynomial can be greater by giving two cases:
Case 1:
Case 2:
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and
are positive integers. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
and
are positive integers. Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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Since
and
are positive,



for all positive
and
, making (B) greater.
Since and
are positive,
for all positive
and
, making (B) greater.
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and
are positive integers. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
and
are positive integers. Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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It is impossible to tell which is greater.
Case 1: 
Then

and
.
This makes (A) and (B) equal.
Case 2: 
Then

and
.
This makes (A) the greater quantity.
It is impossible to tell which is greater.
Case 1:
Then
and
.
This makes (A) and (B) equal.
Case 2:
Then
and
.
This makes (A) the greater quantity.
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and
are negative integers. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
and
are negative integers. Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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Since
and
are both negative,
.


for all negative
and
, making (B) greater.
Since and
are both negative,
.
for all negative
and
, making (B) greater.
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and
are positive integers greater than 1.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
and
are positive integers greater than 1.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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One way to look at this problem is to substitute
. Since
,
must be positive, and this problem is to compare
and
.

and

Since 2,
, and
are positive, by closure,
, and by the addition property of inequality,


Substituting back:

(A) is the greater quantity.
One way to look at this problem is to substitute . Since
,
must be positive, and this problem is to compare
and
.
and
Since 2, , and
are positive, by closure,
, and by the addition property of inequality,
Substituting back:
(A) is the greater quantity.
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and
are positive integers greater than 1.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
and
are positive integers greater than 1.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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One way to look at this problem is to substitute
. The expressions to be compared are

and

Since
is positive, so is
, and

Substituting back,
,
making (A) greater.
One way to look at this problem is to substitute . The expressions to be compared are
and
Since is positive, so is
, and
Substituting back,
,
making (A) greater.
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and
are positive integers greater than 1.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
and
are positive integers greater than 1.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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Case 1: 
Then

and

This makes the quantities equal.
Case 2:

Then

and

This makes (B) greater.
Therefore, it is not clear which quantity, if either, is greater.
Case 1:
Then
and
This makes the quantities equal.
Case 2:
Then
and
This makes (B) greater.
Therefore, it is not clear which quantity, if either, is greater.
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Factor:

Factor:
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We can rewrite as follows:


Each group can be factored - the first as the difference of squares, the second as a pair with a greatest common factor. This becomes
,
which, by distribution, becomes

We can rewrite as follows:
Each group can be factored - the first as the difference of squares, the second as a pair with a greatest common factor. This becomes
,
which, by distribution, becomes
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is a positive number;
is the additive inverse of
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
is a positive number;
is the additive inverse of
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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If
is the additive inverse of
, then, by definition,
.
, as the difference of the squares of two expressions, can be factored as follows:

Since
, it follows that

Another consequence of
being the additive inverse of
is that
, so

is positive, so
is as well.
It follows that
.
If is the additive inverse of
, then, by definition,
.
, as the difference of the squares of two expressions, can be factored as follows:
Since , it follows that
Another consequence of being the additive inverse of
is that
, so
is positive, so
is as well.
It follows that .
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Simplify the following:

Simplify the following:
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To multiply variables with exponents, add the exponents. So,

A longer way would be to write out all the multiplies the exponent tells us to do. This is a little clearer on why adding the exponents works but takes longer and isn't necessary once you understand the process.

To multiply variables with exponents, add the exponents. So,
A longer way would be to write out all the multiplies the exponent tells us to do. This is a little clearer on why adding the exponents works but takes longer and isn't necessary once you understand the process.
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Simplify the following:

Simplify the following:
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To multiply variables with exponents, add the exponents. With multiple variables, simply add the exponents for each different variable.

Simplified:


To multiply variables with exponents, add the exponents. With multiple variables, simply add the exponents for each different variable.
Simplified:
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