A person stands 30 meters east of an intersection and watches a car driving away from the intersection to the north at 17 meters per second. At a certain instant, the car is 16 meters from the intersection. What is the rate of change of the distance between the car and the person at that instant

8) If the base of the exponents match on both sides of the equal sign, then the exponents can be set equal to each other.

So since (5ˣ)⁵ = 5³⁵, the base 5 is on both sides.

5(x) = 35

5x = 35

Divide by 5 on both sides to isolate the variable.

x = 7

9) Without evaluating (much) you can tell by common sense that (2⁵)(10⁵) is bigger.

The exponents are the same so you can multiply the bases. 4x5 = 20. 2 x 10 = 20. Now, just look at the exponents to see which is bigger. 5 > 4. Therefore, (2⁵)(10⁵) is bigger.

10) Nicholas's second statement is false. (2⁶)(2⁶) is the same as (2⁶)². In this case since they have the same base, you would multiply the exponents. 6 x 2 = 12. Therefore, (2⁶)(2⁶) = 2¹²