Question

How do I solve 2x^5 / 4x^8?

Answer 1

In exponents we have this rule for division:

`(x^(a))/(x^(b)) = x^(a-b)`

Applying this rule for the given expression

`(x^(5))/(x^(8)) = x^(5-8) = x^(-3)`

Now we can use another rule here:

`(1)/(x^(a)) =x^(-a)`

changing negative power to positive:

`(1)/(x^(3)) =x^(-3)`

`(2x^(5))/(4x^(8)) = (1)/(2x^(3))`