Which statement correctly explains why you cannot apply the product rule to simplify $2^3\times 3^3$ by adding exponents?

Add the bases first, then multiply the exponents. The product rule applies only after combining bases by multiplication, which is not valid here.

You can only apply the product rule when both bases are prime numbers, and since 2 and 3 are prime, this is allowed.

You can add the exponents because both bases have the same exponent, which is 3, so the result is ${(2+3)}^3$.

You cannot add exponents because the bases are different (2 and 3); the product rule $a^m\times a^n$ applies only when both factors have the same base.