How do you simplify the exponent, p* p²

Firstly, I would recommend that you learn all the exponent laws :)
For this question, we will actually be using one of these laws!

This law can be only used when two or more numbers/ variables with exponents are multiplied together.

Simply add the exponents together to simplify.
In this case:

p x p²= p³

(the exponents 1 and 2 add to 3)

Hope this helps!
Feel free to message me if you have any questions :)