Question

-12a^-5/2a^-8
simplify do not use negative exponents in the answer please help get me started

Answer 1

When you have negative exponents, you put the thing with the negative exponent into the denominator, with what ever is left on top. Example:
\[45x ^{-2}= \frac{ 45 }{ x ^{2} }\]
Now if you have fractions, its more of a multi step problem. Its going to be a complex fraction, with one fraction divided by another. A big mistake people make is that they just flip the negatives from the top to the bottom or vice versa.
Heres an example:
\[\frac{12p ^{3}q ^{-1} }{ 8p ^{-2}q }=\frac{ \frac{ 12p ^{2} }{ q } }{ \frac{ 8q }{ p ^{2} } }\]

Answer 2

Let me know when you get it and want the next step

Answer 3

I am so lost at fractions to begin with then they throw in all these damn letters I'm thinking from what I am reading in my book is that I multiply 12 5's

Answer 4

It's ok, ill help ya :P
Nope, you dont multiply that. Do you get what you do if you have a negative exponent, justa simple one?

Answer 5

i know that when you add two negatives they equal a positive, etc lil stuff like that

Answer 6

See the first part that i showed you? Do you get that?

Answer 7

i'm sorry i had to go pick up my son from school

Answer 8

Oh ok.. thats fine

Answer 9

i'm going to have to get back on a lil later thank you for your help though