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Product Property for Exponents

The Product Property for Exponents provides a shortcut for multiplying two exponential expressions that share the same base. If aa is a real number and mm and nn are integers, then:

aman=am+na^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}

In words: to multiply powers with the same base, keep the base and add the exponents. The property was originally derived for whole-number exponents using the definition of repeated multiplication — for example, x2x3=(xx)(xxx)=x5x^2 \cdot x^3 = (x \cdot x)(x \cdot x \cdot x) = x^5 — and extends to all integer exponents, including zero and negative values. A numerical check confirms the rule: 2223=48=322^2 \cdot 2^3 = 4 \cdot 8 = 32, and 22+3=25=322^{2+3} = 2^5 = 32.

This property differs from combining like terms (addition and subtraction), where both the base and the exponent must match. When multiplying, the bases must be the same but the exponents may differ.

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Updated 2026-04-29

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