Question

I am a little lost on this
20x^8-40x^6+40x^2/5x^2

Answer 1

you can divide 5x^2 from both the top and the bottom. Divide each coefficient in the top by 5, and subtract 2 from each exponent. (x^m / x^n = x^(m-n))

Answer 2

so would this be the answer 4x^6-8x^4+8

Answer 3

yep!

Answer 4

then how would you do this one 30x^3y^2/6x^7y^2

Answer 5

would it be this 5X^10y^4

Answer 6

Just do the same thing except for both x and y. You can do it in steps. First divide the top and bottom by 6. Then divide the top and bottom by x^7, then divide the top and bottom by y^2. When you are done you might want to the negative exponent to the denominator.

Answer 7

No, you are close, but you are adding the exponents. You need to subtract when you are dividing.

Answer 8

that would make them negative correct

Answer 9

x^m / x^n = x^(m-n)
Also, x^(-m) = 1/x^m

Answer 10

Well, x^3/x^7 is x^(3-7) = x^(-4)

Answer 11

well then I have stupid question how do you make it where the exponents are nonnegative

Answer 12

x^(-m) = 1/x^m
you can turn x^(-4) to 1/(x^4)
A negative exponent just means that it is 1 over to what it would be if the exponent were positive.
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/Alg/IntegerExponents.aspx