Question

Multiply or divide as indicated. Simplify your answer, if possible. x^-8/x^5

Answer 1

To solve x^-8/x^5, we subtract the exponents which leads us to x^-13. A negative exponent indicates a reciprocal, so the final answer is 1/x^13.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve the expression x^-8/x^5, we need to use the rules of division of exponentials. According to these rules, we subtract the exponents when we divide exponential terms that have the same base. In this case, both terms have the base x, so we subtract the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator:

x^-8 / x^5 = x^(-8 - 5) = x^-13

Now, remember that a negative exponent denotes taking the reciprocal of the base raised to the absolute value of the exponent. Therefore, x^-13 can be re-written as:

1 / x^13

This is the simplified form of the original expression. We have performed the division by subtracting the exponents and applying the negative exponent rule, simplifying the result into a form with a positive exponent in the denominator.

Answer 2

1/ x^13

Step-by-step explanation:

When we divide exponents with the same base, we subtract the exponents

a^b/ a^c = a^(b-c)

x^-8/x^5

x^(-8-5)

x^ (-13)

Remember that negative exponents take it from the numerator to the denominator.

1/ x^13