Exponents count repeated multiplication. Products with the same base add exponents (aᵐ · aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ), and a power of a power multiplies them ((aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ), because you are concatenating or repeating blocks of factors.

Steps

1. For a product of powers with the same base, add the exponents.
2. For a power of a power, multiply the exponents.
3. Write the simplified single power.