Exponents of Variables

The first example with variables is

We will try simplifying it the first way, by simplifying the inside of the parentheses followed by simplifying the exponent on the outside.

Now that the inside is simplified, the exponent on the parentheses indicates that the expression is equivalent to a 1 multiplied by the parentheses, three times. As you can see x is being multiplied 6 times, hence the answer x to the sixth power.

Proceed to the next page to see this problem worked using the second method.