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Can someone help me with this

2. Divide 20xy^4 z^12 by 4x^3 yz^24

A) 5x^-2 y^3 z^12

B) 5x^-3 y^4 z^12

C) 5y^3/ x^2 z^12

D) 5x^3 y^4/ z^12

User IMujagic
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

C.

Explanation:

When dividing, you can simplify the fraction by eliminating like terms. This is what the question is asking.

You have 4 types of terms. You have the constants, the x term, the y term, and the z term.

This equation can be rewritten as:

(20/4)*(x/x^2)*(y^4/y)*(z^12/z^24)

First, simplify the constants.

20/4=5

Next, do the same for the x term. Dividing variables with exponents can be tricky, but if you think about it as just taking the top exponent minus the bottom one, you should come out with a negative in this case. Whenever an exponent is negative, you can move that variable into the denominator, as shown below.

x/x^2 = x^(-1) = 1/x

Third, you would repeat the last step, except with the y term.

y^4/y = y^3

Then, repeat the same thing with the z term.

z^12/z^24 = z^(-12) = 1/z^12

Finally, we plug all that into our rewritten equation.

5*(1/x)*(y^3)*(1/z^12)

Simplify

(5*y^3)/(x*z^12)

Therefore the answer is C.

User Balexand
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