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Why do I add the powers and not multiply them?

Adwen

Because 2³ means 2×2×2 and 2⁵ means 2×2×2×2×2. Write them out and you are multiplying eight 2s in a row — so the answer is 2⁸. Adding the powers is just a short way of counting how many 2s there are.

Adwen

Try it on paper with 3² × 3³ and count the threes.

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