ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

ACT Math 4.3 Elementary Algebra 346 Views


Share It!


Description:

ACT Math Elementary Algebra Drill 4, Problem 3. Simplify the expression.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

And here is your shmoop de jour. Let's just get to it.

00:05

For this question, use x = -2, y = -1, and z = 0.

00:09

Simplify: quantity xy to the power of z plus x times y to the power of z

00:14

And here are the potential answers...

00:21

It just wants to make sure we know how to plug in numbers and that we know how the

00:25

parentheses work.

00:27

When we plug, we get the quantity negative 2 times negative 1, which is positive 2

00:32

and that whole amount is to the z power.

00:34

Well, z is 0 and anything to the 0 power is 1.

00:38

Now for Part 2.

00:39

Thanks to PEMDAS we know that we handle the exponent first. We get y to the z power

00:45

which is negative 1 to the 0 power which is 1.

00:49

Then we multiply it by x which is negative 2 and we get negative 2. Add that to the

00:54

1 we got earlier and we wind up with negative 1.

00:57

Answer: B.

Up Next

ACT Math 3.1 Plane Geometry
2558 Views

ACT Math: Plane Geometry Drill 3, Problem 1. What is the area of the trapezoid shape in the video?

Related Videos

Inequalities in Number Lines
3226 Views

ACT Math: Coordinate Geometry Drill 1, Problem 1. Which inequality is expressed by the number line?

ACT Math 3.1 Intermediate Algebra
1954 Views

ACT Math: Intermediate Algebra: Drill 3, Problem 1. Find the fifth number in the series.

Piecewise Functions
6147 Views

Don’t even think about starting up your combo lemonade/fro-yo stand without first making sure you understand piecewise functions. You’re just a...

Domain and Range
5377 Views

Domain and range: two terms you will learn to love (or hate with a vengeance). The domain is the set of all possible x values, and range is the set...