Question

I’m not sure how to solve this problem.

Answer 1

When you divide a variable with an exponent by a variable with an exponent, you subtract the exponents. But you can only combine the exponents if the variable/base is the same(it's different for subtraction/addition).

For example:

`(x^5)/(y^2)` You can't simplify this because they have different variables (x and y)

`(x^5)/(x^2) =x^(5-2)=x^3` You can simplify since they have the same variable of x

When the exponent is negative, you have to move the variable and the exponent to the other side of the fraction to make the exponent positive.

For example:

`(x^2)/(x^7)=x^(2-7)=x^(-5)=(1)/(x^5)`

`(y)/(y^4)=y^(1-4) = y^(-3)=(1)/(y^3)`

You can do the problem like this:

`((-10)/(-16) )(m^(-1+8))(y^(0+4))(r^(1+5))` 2 negative signs cancel out and becomes +

`((5)/(8) )(m^7)(y^4)(r^6)`

Your answer is:

`(5m^7y^4r^6)/(8)`

Answer 2

The answer is ((5m^7)(r^6)(y^4)/8