Exponents question

carlosla · #1 $Old$ January 11th, 2009, 09:41 PM

Hi a got a question related to exponents;

Giving m= 4^x + 4^x +4^x + 4^x, find the value of m^2

Since the bases are the same, should I added them all together? and add the exponents? e.g.
16^4x = m? or should I factored out?
Any detailed help will be highly appreciated
Thanks for your time and patient.

mathaddict · #2 $Old$ January 11th, 2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlosla $View Post$

Hi a got a question related to exponents;

Giving m= 4^x + 4^x +4^x + 4^x, find the value of m^2

Since the bases are the same, should I added them all together? and add the exponents? e.g.
16^4x = m? or should I factored out?
Any detailed help will be highly appreciated
Thanks for your time and patient.

maybe you can try this

$4^x+4^x+4^x+4^x=m$

let $4^x=y$

$y+y+y+y=m$

$4y=m$

$m^2=16y^2$

$m^2=16(4^{2x})$

$m^2=2^{4+4x}$