Question

Simplify
Y exponent -5/ y exponent -4

Answer 1

`(1)/(y)`

Explanation:

using the rule of exponents

•
`(a^(m) )/(a^(n) )` =
`a^((m-n))`

•
`a^(-m)` =
`(1)/(a^(m) )`

given

`(y^(-5) )/(y^(-4) )`

=
`y^((-5-(-4)))`

=
`y^((-5+4))`

=
`y^(-1)`

=
`(1)/(y)`

Answer 2

"Simplify" is an instruction to rewrite the expression with as few symbols as possible. 5y-4 and 5/y4 have the same number of symbols.

A possible alternative direction might have been to rewrite without the negative exponent.