simplify (p^-8)-3
I got an answer p^24 is this correct

Question

anonymous · Answer

right one!

anonymous · Answer

What class are you taking? I do not think this answer is right. I am in Intermediate Algebra, we just did this last week. I do not think you multiply the exponents. I am looking in my book, give me a second to atleast double check to make sure.

anonymous · Answer

a^-n=1/a^n

anonymous · Answer

is it 

$$(p ^{-8})^{-3}$$

anonymous · Answer

That is the rule for a negative exponent.

anonymous · Answer

Nickie_S I am in Algebra1B

anonymous · Answer

if t is as i wrote then we use the law
$$(a ^{m})^{n} = a ^{m*n}$$
and get
$$p ^{(-8)*(-3)} = p ^{24}$$

anonymous · Answer

thnks Harkirat that is what I go to

anonymous · Answer

so the question is as I wrote???

anonymous · Answer

Harkirat that is how I set it up to solve also

anonymous · Answer

Nickie_S
do u hv a different opinion/answer??

anonymous · Answer

ok jazil then while posting the question type it as follows:

simplify (p^-8)^-3

you missed the second carat sign (^)

anonymous · Answer

I am looking it up, I thought you plus or minus, but the thing is I haven't came across a - and - exponent in my book. I am no expert so I may be wrong.

anonymous · Answer

thanks Harkirat I sure did miss the second carat sign but u were smart enough to know exactly what I meant

anonymous · Answer

@ Nickie_s

the laws remain same whether indices are positive or negative......

anonymous · Answer

41.
(t^-3)^-6
t^18
I finally found it, I think yeah you multiply the exponents. its right. (See it was a learning question, lol) Sorry.

anonymous · Answer

see we can even handle it by the law a^-m = 1/a^m


                      (   1    )^-3
(p^-8)^-3  =(---- )
                      (  p^8 )

now we will have to use the law when base is fraction

$$(p/q)^{-m} = (q/p)^{m}$$

anonymous · Answer

so it becomes

                      ( p^8 )^3        p^8*3         p^24
(p^-8)^-3  =(---- )    =   -------  = ------  = p^24   !!!!!!!
                      (    1   )             1^3               1

anonymous · Answer

So Nickie_S
you can see that is a longer and more complicated way of doing it

so first method is nice, short, clean...  ☺☻☺

anonymous · Answer

lol, I always go for the long way. I just thought there was something else to it. So its not 1/(p^8)^3 which then turns into p^24.

See I thought it was
(p^-8)^-3
=p^(-8+-3)
=p^-11