Compute 2^3 × 2^2.

Compute 2^3 × 2^2.

• A. 2^3
• B. 2^2
• C. 4
• D. 2^5

Answer: (D)

When multiplying powers with the same base, you add the exponents. So 2^3 × 2^2 becomes 2^(3+2) = 2^5. That is the correct expression, representing 2 raised to the 5th power (which equals 32). Choices like 2^3 or 2^2 keep only one exponent, and 4 is 2^2, so they don’t reflect the combining of the two exponents.

When multiplying powers with the same base, you add the exponents. So 2^3 × 2^2 becomes 2^(3+2) = 2^5. That is the correct expression, representing 2 raised to the 5th power (which equals 32). Choices like 2^3 or 2^2 keep only one exponent, and 4 is 2^2, so they don’t reflect the combining of the two exponents.