Question

How do you simplify `\frac { p ^ { - 2} } { p ^ { - 7} }`?

Answer 1

See explanation.

Explanation:

If you want to divide 2 powers with equal bases you can write the result as a power in which the base is equal to the one in initial expression and the exponent is the difference of the exponents in the initial expression:

`a^b-:a^c=a^(b-c)`

In the given example we have:

`p^-2/p^-7=p^(-2-(-7))=p^(-2+7)=p^5`