I'm trying to remember how to help my boyfriend answer his math question.. it's been about 10 years since i was in school.. the question is z^3(z^-2y^-2)^2/ (3z^4)^2y^-7

Question

I'm trying to remember how to help my boyfriend answer his math question.. it's been about 10 years since i was in school..  the question is z^3(z^-2y^-2)^2/ (3z^4)^2y^-7

anonymous · Answer

What's the question? Are you canceling?

anonymous · Answer

oh sorry

anonymous · Answer

trying to figure this thing out

anonymous · Answer

I don't remember how to even begin to answer this... =(

anonymous · Answer

What do the directions say? You can't just "figure this out", that doesn't mean anything. The only thing this could possibly be is factoring and reducing or something, unless there's more directions that you haven't shared with us.

anonymous · Answer

Any chance you can retype this with a little more clarity? I'm having a lot of difficulty trying to write out the equation on paper to do work with.

anonymous · Answer

Use the properties of exponents to simplify the following exrpression, writing your answer with only positive exponents.  i'll try to see if i can write it better... one sec.  This is my first time here.

anonymous · Answer

sure sure. Once you actually give the directions, it's not that hard a problem, just needs some work.

anonymous · Answer

don't you have to "flip it" to make it positive?  if i remember right?

anonymous · Answer

$$z ^{3}(z ^{-2}y ^{-2})^{2}\div(3z ^{4})^{2}y^{-7}$$

anonymous · Answer

it's written like a fraction

anonymous · Answer

it's been soo long..

anonymous · Answer

$$z^7y^3\div9$$

anonymous · Answer

how did you solve it?  if it's not too hard to explain?

anonymous · Answer

i remember needing to put all my numbers on one side and all my variables on the other... right?

anonymous · Answer

I'm wrong btw, the exponent about the z should be an and negative 9.
$$z^{-9}y^{3}/9$$

anonymous · Answer

so does it need to go to the bottom of the equation to become positive?  if i'm remembering correctly?  the directions says it can't have any negative exponents

anonymous · Answer

yes, but make z positive when you put it at the bottom of course

anonymous · Answer

Sorry, I was eating dinner. It should be Y^3/Z^9 * (1/9). It's kinda frustrating to explain, I'm not really sure how to even begin...

anonymous · Answer

the answer is$$y^{3}\div 9 z^{7}$$