I need to simplifiy using positive exponents.
-30x^4y^-4 / 120x^2y^-4

Question

I need to simplifiy using positive exponents. 
-30x^4y^-4 / 120x^2y^-4

anonymous · Answer

$$-\frac{x^2}{4}$$

jhonyy9 · Answer

this is understandably ?

anonymous · Answer

what do you mean understandably?

jhonyy9 · Answer

how was simplified ?

mathteacher1729 · Answer

Do you mean?
$$\large \frac{-30x^4y^{-4}}{120x^2y^{-4}}$$

anonymous · Answer

yes, that is how it is set up @ mathteacher

mathteacher1729 · Answer

Ok. Question for you - do you know how to simplify: $\huge \frac{-30}{120}$ and $\huge \frac{x^4}{x^4}$ and $\huge \frac{y^{-4}}{y^{-4}}$ individually?

mathteacher1729 · Answer

sorry, the middle one should be $\huge \frac{x^4}{x^2}$

anonymous · Answer

I can do the -30 and 120 and the x's but the y exponents both being negative throws me off

mathteacher1729 · Answer

So the general rule for dividing exponents is this: $$\huge \frac{x^a}{x^b}=x^{a-b}$$

In other words, take the exponent in the numerator and subtract from it the exponent in the denominator. 

So for $$\huge \frac{x^4}{x^2}=x^{4-2} =x^2$$

anonymous · Answer

ok, I got that...since -30 goes into 120, I got the answer of -4 and x^2, so far I have the answer of -4x^2  but I am sure of the y's, if they cancel each other out since when you subtract them you get 0 but I know anything to the zero power is =1