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Lv 6
? asked in Science & MathematicsMathematics · 9 years ago

Why do you divide these exponents but multiply these?

ok i don't get why you multiply this:

v5 · v5

v(5 + 5) Multiply the v's, remembering to add the exponents

v10

yet you need to divide this::

y7

y-6

y7 – -6 Divide the y's, remembering to subtract the exponents

y13

2 Answers

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  • John H
    Lv 5
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Here's one way of looking at it:

    v^5 * v^5 = v*v*v*v*v * v*v*v*v*v = v^10

    y^7 / y^-6 = y*y*y*y*y*y*y / (1 / y*y*y*y*y*y) = y*y*y*y*y*y*y * y*y*y*y*y*y = y^13

  • TC
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    a^m x a^n = a^(m + n)

    so v^5 X v^5 = v^(5 + 5) = v^10

    a^m = 1/a^(- m)

    and

    a^m/a^n = a^(m - n)

    v^7/v^5 = v^(7 - 5) = v^2

    your problem has a negative exponent in denominator which is throwing you off

    v^7/v^(- 5) = v^7 x v^5 = v^(7 + 5) = v^13

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