Did you know that expressions like , , and can be combined using the laws of exponents? For example, if and are constants, and both refer to powers of the same base , you can add or subtract them in terms of and where applicable. This leads to neat simplifications in algebraic expressions!

When dealing with such expressions, a common mistake is overlooking the signs when combining terms. For example, remember that has a negative sign, which affects the final result when you combine it with the positives. Always keep track of those pesky signs, as they can turn a simple addition into a subtraction!