using the product rule of exponents, what is an equivalent form of 8 to the power of 2 x 8 to the power of 6?

Using the product rule of exponents, we know that when multiplying two expressions with the same base, we add the exponents. This means:

\[
8^2 \times 8^6 = 8^{(2 + 6)}
\]

Therefore, the equivalent form of \( 8^2 \times 8^6 \) is:

**a) \( 8^{(2 + 6)} \)**.