Polynomial Exponents

The previous lesson explained how to simplify exponents of a single term inside parentheses, like the problem below.

(x³y⁴)⁵

This lesson covers how to simplify exponents on parentheses that contain a polynomial (more than one term), like the problem below.

(x³ + y⁴)²

Because the two terms inside parentheses are not being multiplied or divided, the exponent outside the parentheses can not just be "distributed in". Instead, a 1 must be multiplied by the entire polynomial the number of times indicated by the exponent. In this problem the exponent is 2, so it is multiplied two times:

1(x³ + y⁴)(x³ + y⁴)

Use the FOIL Method to simplify the multiplication above, then combine like terms.

x⁶ + x³y⁴ + x³y⁴ + y⁸
x⁶ + 2x³y⁴ + y⁸

Proceed to the next page to view an example with multiplication inside the parentheses.