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Mathematics 15 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

xy^-1, x=2, y=3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

is it 6

OpenStudy (anonymous):

no it is \[2\times 3^{-1}=\frac{2}{3}\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

ok thx

OpenStudy (anonymous):

if your question is \[(xy)^-1\] then answer is 1/6

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Two tricks to this question. The first is order of operations. Parenthesis is done before multiplication, so 3^-1 is done before 2*. The second trick is negative exponents. With a negative exponent, change the base to its reciprocal and then make the exponent positive. So you get this: x*y^-1 = 2* 3^-1 = 2* (1/3)^1 = 2*(1/3) = 2/3

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