ASVAB AFQT
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When you run into exponent problems on the Mathematics Knowledge subtest on the ASVAB, they may look a little complicated. As you'll see in the following practice questions, though, if you know the different exponent rules, they're quite easy to solve.

Practice questions

  1. Simplify: (3x7y5)2 A. 9x7y5 B. 9x14y5 C. 9x7y10 D. 9x14y10
  2. Simplify: ((x5)7)9 A. x21 B. x22 C. x31 D. x315

Answers and explanations

  1. The correct answer is Choice (D).

    To simplify expressions that contain exponents, raise everything in the parentheses by the exponent outside the parentheses. Technically, you'll apply the exponent rule, which says (ab)n = anbn. In this case,

    ASVAB_1001

  2. The correct answer is Choice (D).

    Apply the exponent rule, which says

    ASVAB_1002

    Multiply the exponents, beginning with the innermost parentheses:

    ASVAB_1003

    Move on to the outer exponent:

    ASVAB_1004

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Angie Papple Johnston joined the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear specialist, ready to tackle chemical weapons in a Level- A HAZMAT suit. She's currently the CBRN noncommissioned officer-in-charge of an aviation battalion in Washington, D.C.

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