Simplify (-2x^3)^2

${(- 2 x^{3})}^{2}$

Step 1

Apply the product rule to $- 2 x^{3}$ .

${(- 2)}^{2} {(x^{3})}^{2}$

Step 2

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $2$ .

$4 {(x^{3})}^{2}$

Step 3

Multiply the exponents in ${(x^{3})}^{2}$ .

Apply the power rule and multiply exponents, ${(a^{m})}^{n} = a^{m n}$ .

$4 x^{3 \cdot 2}$

Multiply $3$ by $2$ .

$4 x^{6}$