Multiply the two terms together
Rearrange so that 'like' terms within the product are next to each other

$5 \times 4 \times a^{6} \times a^{- 4} \times b^{3} \times b^{4}$

Multiply together the numbers at the start of each term

$5 \times 4 = 20$

Apply the index law: $a^{m} \times a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to each part of the terms with the same base number

$a^{6} \times a^{- 4} = a^{6 + - 4} = a^{2}$

$b^{3} \times b^{4} = b^{3 + 4} = b^{7}$

Write down the result

$20 \times a^{2} \times b^{7}$

Write without $\times$ between the terms

$20 a^{2} b^{7}$ [2]
1 mark for 2 of the terms in the product correct, 2 marks for all 3 terms correct

Algebraic Roots & Indices (Edexcel GCSE Maths: Foundation)

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