How do you simplify $(10a^-8b^-2)/(4a^3b^5)$ ?

Question

2767 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2015-06-11T08:10:51

$= 5/2 color(red)(a^-11b^-7$

$(10a^-8b^-2)/(4a^3b^5$

Note: $color(red)(a^m / a^n = a^(m-n)$

Applying the above property to the exponents of $a$ and $b$

$= (10/4) . a^color(red)((-8-3)) . b^color(red)((-2-5))$
$= 5/2 color(red)(a^-11b^-7$

How do you simplify (10a^-8b^-2)/(4a^3b^5)(10a^-8b^-2)/(4a^3b^5)?