Question

Simplifying Rational Expressions

Marina correctly simplified the expression

A.) -7
B.) -1
C.) 1
d.) 7

Answer 1

That would be 7 because

b^4 / b^-3 = b^(4-(-3)) = b^7

Answer 2

The given expression to simplify is

`(-4a^(-2)b^4)/(8a^(-6)b^(-3)) , \text{Assuming that } a\\eq 0, b\\eq 0.`

We can Simplify the given rational expression using the following exponent property

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Hence exponent of the variable b is 7