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Algebra Questions: Fractional & Negative Exponents?
Please explain to me how to simplify the following expression:
( [ 3 x^(3/2) y^(3) ] / [ x^(2) y^(- 1/2) ] ) ^-2
Clicking here to see a picture of it may be easier to understand:
1 Answer
- ?Lv 710 years ago
Deal with the ^-2 on the outside later.
If it's underneath the division line, change the sign of the exponent, and multiply instead of divide:
[ 3 x^(3/2) y^(3) ] / [ x^(2) y^(- 1/2) ]
3*x^(3/2)*y^(3)*x^(-2)*y^(1/2)
Add exponents to multiply:
3*x^(-1/2)*y^(7/2)
Now the ^-2: square it..that's ^2
9*x^-1*y^7
..and take the reciprocal, because it's ^-2
(1/9)*x*y^-7<<<
