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ACT Math 4.3 Elementary Algebra 346 Views


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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.

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