Question

How do you simplify and write `(3.89)^-5 * (3.89)^6` with positive exponents?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Use this rule of exponents: `x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) + color(blue)(b))`

Substitute `3.89` for `x` giving:

`(3.89)^color(red)(-5) xx (3.89)^color(blue)(6) => 3.89^(color(red)(-5) + color(blue)(6)) => 3.89^1`

If necessary, we can further simplify the expression using this rule of exponents:

`a^color(red)(1) = a`

`3.89^color(red)(1) = 3.89`