9514 1404 393
Answer:
a = 3, b = 12, c = 13
Step-by-step explanation:
The applicable rules of exponents are ...
(a^b)(a^c) = a^(b+c)
(a^b)/(a^c) = a^(b-c)
(a^b)^c = a^(bc)
___
You seem to have ...
[tex]\dfrac{2^5\times8^4}{16}=\dfrac{2^5\times(2^3)^4}{2^4}\qquad (a=3)\\\\=\dfrac{2^5\times2^{3\cdot4}}{2^4}=\dfrac{2^5\times2^{12}}{2^4}\qquad (b=12)\\\\=2^{5+12-4}=2^{13}\qquad(c=13)[/tex]
_____
Additional comment
I find it easy to remember the rules of exponents by remembering that an exponent signifies repeated multiplication. It tells you how many times the base is a factor in the product.
[tex]2\cdot2\cdot2 = 2^3\qquad\text{2 is a factor 3 times}[/tex]
Multiplication increases the number of times the base is a factor.
[tex](2\cdot2\cdot2)\times(2\cdot2)=(2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2)\\\\2^3\times2^2=2^{3+2}=2^5[/tex]
Similarly, division cancels factors from numerator and denominator, so decreases the number of times the base is a factor.
[tex]\dfrac{(2\cdot2\cdot2)}{(2\cdot2)}=2\\\\\dfrac{2^3}{2^2}=2^{3-2}=2^1[/tex]
