Answer: No, they are not equivalent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Since we have given that
[tex]ab^2\ and\ a^2b^2[/tex]
No, the two expressions are not equivalent.
As we know that
[tex]a^2b^2[/tex] can be written as [tex](ab)^2[/tex]
but [tex]ab^2[/tex] can't be written as that .
[tex]x=ab^2\\\\y=a^2b^2\\\\[/tex]
Suppose if they are equivalent then,
then, [tex]x=y\\\\dfrac{x}{y}=1[/tex]
So, if we put the values of x and y we get that
[tex]\dfrac{x}{y}=\dfrac{ab^2}{a^2b^2}=\dfrac{1}{a}\neq 1[/tex]
Hence, they are not equivalent.