How do you simplify #\frac { - 6p ^ { 4} q ^ { 6} s ^ { 2} } { 10s ^ { 2} p ^ { 5} q ^ { 2} }#?

1 Answer
Lithia
Feb 16, 2017

#(-3q^4)/(5p)#

Explanation:

#(-6p^4q^6s^2)/(10s^2p^5q^2)#

when you divide powers you subtract them

#(-6q^(6-2)s^(2-2))/(10p^(5-4)) = (-6q^4(1))/(10p) = color(purple)((-3q^4)/(5p))#

you can also subtract all the powers in the numerator or denominator if you want, it doesn't matter because the negative-exponent rule would fix that
#(-6p^(4-5)q^(6-2)s^(2-2))/10 = (-6p^-1q^4(1))/10 = (-3q^4)/(5p)#

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