8x to the second power times 3x to the second power?

8x to the second power times 3x to the second power

(8x)2 + (3x)2 = 64x2 + 9x2 = 73x2

is one possibility, except the problem called for multiplication which would make the answer 64x squared times 9x squared = 576x to the fourth power

It could also be read this way: 8x squared times 3x squared equals 24x to the fourth power. I wish my computer would do those cool little twos.