Mathematics

This problem asks you to take an algebraic expression and reduce it to its simplest form using the rules of exponents, radicals, or fractions—whichever apply—and then plug in any given values to get a single number. The key insight is to work systematically through one operation at a time: combine like terms, apply exponent rules (like $a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}$), or rationalize denominators if needed, before substituting numbers. This order prevents messy arithmetic and makes errors easier to spot.

This problem asks you to take an algebraic expression and reduce it to its simplest form using the rules of exponents, radicals, or fractions—whichever apply—and then plug in any given values to get a single number. The key insight is to work systematically through one operation at a time: combine like terms, apply exponent rules (like $a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}$), or rationalize denominators if needed, before substituting numbers. This order prevents messy arithmetic and makes errors easier to spot.