Question

simplify this expression: 12x^2y^3 over 3xy

Answer 1

use\[\frac{x^a}{x^b}=x^{a-b}\]and divide the 12 by the three.

Answer 2

same thing with the y as the x
subtract the exponent on the bottom from that one the top
what is the exponent of x on the bottom?

Answer 3

there is no exponent for the bottom x

Answer 4

That means the exponent is 1
anything by itself has an invisible exponent of 1

Answer 5

\[12x ^{2}y ^{3} \over 3xy\]

Answer 6

right, now using the formula I gave and knowing that the denominator has exponents of 1, what do you get?

Answer 7

so i think the answer is 4x^2y^2

Answer 8

almost, but the x has the wring exponent.
what is the exponent of x on the bottom?
what about the top?
top - bottom=???

Answer 9

wrong exponent*

Answer 10

so its 4xy^2

Answer 11

bingo!

Answer 12

:D thanks!

Answer 13

welcome :)