Simplify 7^x × 7^(-x): Multiplying Exponential Expressions

Question

7x7x=? 7^x\cdot7^{-x}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:05 Let's solve this problem together, step by step.
00:09 When you multiply numbers with the same base, add the exponents together.
00:14 So, our final exponent will be the sum of the original exponents.
00:19 We will use this rule to solve our exercise by adding the exponents.
00:24 Remember, any number to the power of zero is one, as long as the number itself is not zero.
00:30 And that gives us our final answer.

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the law of exponents to multiply terms with identical bases:

aman=am+n a^m\cdot a^n=a^{m+n} We apply the law to given the problem:

7x7x=7x+(x)=7xx=70 7^x\cdot7^{-x}=7^{x+(-x)}=7^{x-x}=7^0 In the first stage we apply the above power rule and in the following stages we simplify the expression obtained in the exponent,

Subsequently, we use the zero power rule:

X0=1 X^0=1 We obtain:

70=1 7^0=1 Lastly we summarize the solution to the problem.

7x7x=7xx=70=1 7^x\cdot7^{-x}=7^{x-x}=7^0 =1 Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Answer

1 1