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12 {a}^(4) {b}^( - 3) / 15 {a}^( - 2) b I don't understand what the lesson is trying to teach me.

simplify 12 {a}^(4) {b}^( - 3) / 15 {a}^( - 2) b I don't understand what the lesson-example-1
User Lenzman
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2 Answers

2 votes

To do the divisions, we divide all the same terms together.

12 : 15 = 4/5
a^4 : a^-2 = a^4 - (-2) = a^6
b^-3 : b = b^-3 - (1) = b^-4

And do the last step of moving the terms with negative exponents, we get the result shown in the picture.

User Perez
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2 votes

We have to simplify the expression:


(12a^4b^(-3))/(15a^(-2)b)

We have the variables a and b with different exponents, that we can simplify applyinf the rules of the exponents.

For example, we can do this:


\begin{gathered} (12a^4b^(-3))/(15a^(-2)b) \\ (12)/(15)a^(4-(-2))b^(-3-1) \\ (4)/(5)a^6b^(-4) \\ (4)/(5)(a^6)/(b^4) \end{gathered}

Answer: (4/5)*a^6/b^4

User Irfanengineer
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