Question

Jim’s work evaluating 2 (three-fifths) cubed is shown below.
2 (three-fifths) cubed = 2 (StartFraction 3 cubed Over 5 EndFraction) = 2 (StartFraction 3 times 3 times 3 Over 5 EndFraction) = 2 (StartFraction 27 Over 5 EndFraction) = StartFraction 54 Over 5 EndFraction

Which statement best describe Jim’s first error?
He did not multiply Three-fifths by 2 before applying the power.
He did not apply the power to the denominator of Three-fifths.
He did not evaluate 33 correctly.
He did not multiply StartFraction 27 Over 5 EndFraction by 2 correctly.

Answer 1

He did not apply the power to the denominator of Three-fifths.

Explanation: (2·(3/5))^3 should be 2·(3^3/5^3) = 2·(27/125) = 54/125. Jim only cubed the numerator (3 → 27) and left the denominator as 5.