Question

1. Simplify the following expression, and rewrite it in an equivalent form with positive exponents.


-16x -1y -3
------------------------
80x - 4y -3

Answer 1

i am guessing this is
\[\frac{-16x^{-1}y^{-3}}{80x^{-4}y^{-3}}\] am i right?

Answer 2

in that case it is
-1x^3

Answer 3

yes it is written like that

Answer 4

ok then lets cancel the
\[y^{-4}\] from top and bottom as a first step and get
\[\frac{-16x^{-1}}{80x^{-4}}\] then bring the
\[x^{-4}\] to the numerator and make the exponent positive to get
\[\frac{-16x^{-1}x^4}{80}\] add the exponents to get
\[\frac{-16x^3}{80}\] and then cancel the 16 with the 80 to get
\[-\frac{x^3}{5}\]