What is the simplified form of a^2 * a^3?

The expression a^2 * a^3 can be simplified by using the property of exponents that states when multiplying two expressions with the same base, you add their exponents. Here, the base is "a," and the exponents are 2 and 3.

So, you would calculate it as follows:

a^2 * a^3 = a^(2+3) = a^5.

This method of combining exponents is fundamental in algebra and is consistently used when dealing with exponential expressions involving the same base. Thus, the simplified form of a^2 * a^3 is indeed a^5, confirming that the choice is correct.