Reformatting a number

Hi Nonnos123,

When multiplying numbers together, it doesn't matter which number comes first. For example:

(2)(3)(4) = (3)(4)(2)

In that same way, you can 'rewrite' either of those calculations and still end up with the same result. For example:

(2)(3)(4) = (3)(4)(2)
(6)(4) = (3)(8)

The same idea applies to the example that you presented:
(6^5)(5^6) = (6)(6)(6)(6)(6)(5)(5)(5)(5)(5)(5)

We can multiply a number of those individual 6s and 5s and 'rewrite' the calculation....

(6)(6)(6)(6)(6)(5)(5)(5)(5)(5)(5)
(30)(30)(30)(30)(30)(5)
(30^5)(5)

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich