Question

Fill in the space to make the equation true 3y5*__y—=12y2

Answer 1

The second blank, which is the exponent on the y there, is -3.

`3y^5 \cdot 4y^(-3)`

Explanation:

`3(?)=12` implies
`?=4` since 3(4)=12.

`y^5 \cdot y^(?)=y^(5+?)=y^(2)` implies
`5+?=2`.

`5+?=2` can be solved by subtracting 5 on both sides. This gives you:

`?=2-5`

`?=-3`

Let's put it altogether:

`3y^5 \cdot 4y^(-3)`

`12y^(5+(-3))`

`12y^(2)`

So the first blank is 4.

The second blank, which is the exponent on the y there, is -3.