remember
[tex](x^m)(x^n)=x^{m+n}[/tex]
the key is that the base is the same
(12³)(11³) cannot be added
you have to understand how exponents work
12³=12*12*12
11³=11*11*11
so
if we had (12³)(11³), that is equal to 12*12*12*11*11*11
if we tried to add the expoennts, we would get 6, but would it be 12⁶ or 11⁶?
neither
so that's why the exponents can't be added, it's because they have different bases. we need to have the same base to add exponents
