Apply the product rule of exponents to solve and simplify 3³ • 3² as an equivalent expression.
The product rule of exponents states that when you multiply two exponential expressions with the same base, you can add their exponents.
Using this rule, we can simplify 3³ • 3² as follows:
3³ • 3² = (3^3) • (3^2) (writing the exponents in expanded form)
= 3^(3+2) (applying the product rule of exponents by adding the exponents)
= 3^5 (simplifying the sum of exponents)
= 243 (evaluating 3^5)
Therefore, 3³ • 3² is equivalent to 243.