Simplify Monomials – 2010

A monomial is in simplest form if:

• Each base appears once
e.g.

3x2 y 3 x3 = 3x5 y 3

• There are no powers of powers

e.g.

2
3x3 = 9x6

• All fractions are in simplest form. e.g.

2
8x3 82 x6 64x4 4x4

= = =
12xy 2 122 x2 y 4 144y 4 9y 4

Simplifying earlier in the process would make this problem a bit easier
2 2
8x3 2x3 22 x6 4x4
 
= = =
12xy 2 3xy 2 32 x2 y 4 9y 4

Simplify each of the following monomials

3
1) 4x2 y 3 x5 · 3x2

2a
4)
4n

3
2) (3xy)(12x2 y) 5) 4q 3 r4

4
4s3 t4

3) xy 2 · xy 3 6)
6s2 t4
Answers
1. 12x9 y 3
2. 36x3 y 2
3. x2 y 5
a3
4.
8n3
5. 64q 9 r12
16s4
6.
81