172.
1) $$(a^5)^6 = a^{5*6} = a^{30}$$
2) $$(a^8)^7 = a^{8*7} = a^{56}$$
3) $$(a^2)^5 a^3 = a^{2*5} a^3 = a^{10} a^3 = a^{10+3} = a^{13}$$
4) $$a^5 (a^2)^3 = a^5 a^{2*3} = a^5 a^6 = a^{5+6} = a^{11}$$
5) $$a^7 a^5 (a^2)^4 = a^7 a^5 a^{2*4} = a^7 a^5 a^8 = a^{7+5+8} = a^{20}$$
6) $$a^3 (a^3)^3 a^3 = a^3 a^{3*3} a^3 = a^3 a^9 a^3 = a^{3+9+3} = a^{15}$$
173.
1) $$(a^7)^5 : (a^3)^4 = a^{7*5} : a^{3*4} = a^{35} : a^{12} = a^{35-12} = a^{23}$$
2) $$(a^6)^4 : (a^3)^5 = a^{6*4} : a^{3*5} = a^{24} : a^{15} = a^{24-15} = a^9$$
3) $$\frac{(a^3)^5 a^4}{a^{12}} = \frac{a^{3*5} a^4}{a^{12}} = \frac{a^{15} a^4}{a^{12}} = \frac{a^{15+4}}{a^{12}} = \frac{a^{19}}{a^{12}} = a^{19-12} = a^7$$
4) $$\frac{a^8(a^4)^4}{(a^3)^4} = \frac{a^8 a^{4*4}}{a^{3*4}} = \frac{a^8 a^{16}}{a^{12}} = \frac{a^{8+16}}{a^{12}} = \frac{a^{24}}{a^{12}} = a^{24-12} = a^{12}$$