Which values of [tex]\(a\)[/tex] and [tex]\(b\)[/tex] make the following equation true?

[tex]\[
(5 x^7 y^2)(-4 x^4 y^5) = -20 x^a y^b
\][/tex]

A. [tex]\(a=11, b=7\)[/tex]
B. [tex]\(a=11, b=10\)[/tex]
C. [tex]\(a=28, b=7\)[/tex]
D. [tex]\(a=28, b=10\)[/tex]



Answer :

To solve this problem, let's go through each step carefully to determine the correct values of [tex]\(a\)[/tex] and [tex]\(b\)[/tex] that satisfy the given equation:
[tex]\[ (5x^7y^2)(-4x^4y^5) = -20x^a y^b \][/tex]

1. Identify the coefficients:
- From the left-hand side of the equation:
[tex]\[ (5x^7y^2)(-4x^4y^5) \][/tex]
The coefficients are 5 and -4.

2. Multiply the coefficients:
- Multiply these coefficients together:
[tex]\[ 5 \times -4 = -20 \][/tex]

3. Combine the exponents of [tex]\(x\)[/tex]:
- We have [tex]\(x^7\)[/tex] and [tex]\(x^4\)[/tex]. When multiplying these terms, you add their exponents:
[tex]\[ x^7 \times x^4 = x^{7+4} = x^{11} \][/tex]

4. Combine the exponents of [tex]\(y\)[/tex]:
- We have [tex]\(y^2\)[/tex] and [tex]\(y^5\)[/tex]. When multiplying these terms, you add their exponents:
[tex]\[ y^2 \times y^5 = y^{2+5} = y^7 \][/tex]

Putting it all together, we have:
[tex]\[ (5x^7y^2)(-4x^4y^5) = -20x^{11}y^7 \][/tex]

Comparing this with the right-hand side of the equation:
[tex]\[ -20x^a y^b \][/tex]

We can see that:
[tex]\[ a = 11 \quad \text{and} \quad b = 7 \][/tex]

Therefore, the correct values of [tex]\(a\)[/tex] and [tex]\(b\)[/tex] that make the equation true are:
[tex]\[ \boxed{a = 11, \, b = 7} \][/tex]

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