Question

What is the quotient in simplified form ? Need help please

Answer 1

`-(4a^(12)b^8)/(5)`

Explanation:

The applicable rules of exponents are ...

`(1)/(a^(-b))=a^b\\\\a^ba^c=a^(b+c)`

Your ratio simplifies to ...

`(-8a^8b^(-2))/(10a^(-4)b^(-10))=-(4)/(5)a^(8-(-4))b^(-2-(-10))\\\\=-(4a^(12)b^8)/(5)`

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Please note that simplifying the constants, -8/10 to -4/5, eliminates half the answer choices. Since exponents are only multiplied when a power is raised to a power, you can pretty much eliminate the second choice as being unreasonable. ((a^b)^c = a^(bc))