215k views
1 vote
How do i simplify this math equation

How do i simplify this math equation-example-1

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:


(1)/(9x^2)

Explanation:

Hi! So to simplify this expression by using positive exponents, we are going to use an exponent rule.

One rule that we will be using is when we raise something to a negative power.

The rule is if we are raising something to negative power, like
2^-3, then we are going to write
(1)/(2^3), which equals to 1/8

So, we bring 2^-3 to the bottom and make the exponent positive so instead of -3, it will be positive 3.

Another example: let's do
4^(-2). We are going to write 1 over something. What is that something?

It is
4^(2), or 16

So,
4^(-2) =(1)/(4^2) =(1)/(16)

In short, we write 1 over something and make the exponent positive

Example with variables:

Let's do
(2x)^-2:

We are going to write:
(1)/((2x)^2)

We brought whatever is raised to the power, which is 2x, to the bottom and made the exponent positive.

We can do some simplifying:
(2x)^2 is the sames as (2x) multiplied by (2x). Multiply the 2's together and x's, and you get
4x^2

Now with our example: We are doing (-3x)^-2

We get:
(1)/((-3x)&2)

I brought the -3x to the bottom and made the exponent positive.

We can simplify the denominator by doing (-3x)^2, which is the same as -3x being multiplied by -3x.

-3 times -3 is 9, and x times x is x^2, so we get
9x^2

In short:
(-3x)^2=(1)/((3x)^2) =(1)/(9x&2)

Our final answer is:
(1)/(9x^2)

Hope this helps!

User Dibu
by
8.5k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories