When we multiply like bases with exponents, we add the exponents because the exponent represents the number of times the base is multiplied by itself. By adding the exponents, we are essentially multiplying the bases together as many times as the exponents indicate.
For example, if we have 2^3 * 2^4, this means we are multiplying 2 by itself 3 times and 2 by itself 4 times. To find the total multiplication, we add the exponents: 2^3 * 2^4 = 2^(3+4) = 2^7. This means that we are multiplying 2 by itself 7 times.
Adding the exponents makes sense because when we multiply numbers with the same base, the result is that the base is raised to the sum of the exponents.
Why do we add exponents when we are multiplying like bases?
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