16Hit1600
Advanced MathHardRewriting an exponential with a different base

Advanced Math practice question

Which expression is equivalent to 8ˣ?

  1. A. 2³ˣCorrect
  2. B. 2ˣ⁺³
  3. C. 4²ˣ
  4. D. 2ˣ · 3

Answer: A. 2³ˣ

8 is 2³, so 8ˣ = (2³)ˣ. A power raised to a power multiplies the exponents: 2³ˣ.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 2ˣ⁺³
2ˣ⁺³ is 2ˣ · 2³ = 8 · 2ˣ, which is 8 times 2ˣ — not 8 to the power x. Exponents multiply here, they don't add.
C. 4²ˣ
4²ˣ = (2²)²ˣ = 2⁴ˣ, which is 16ˣ, not 8ˣ.
D. 2ˣ · 3
2ˣ · 3 is three times 2ˣ. The 3 must be an exponent, not a multiplier.

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