Question

5a^3/a^7

How do I solve this?

I'm getting 5/a^-7

Answer 1

sorry I messed up the question, its actually 5a^3/a^7

Answer 2

5/a^-4

Answer 3

I know thats the answer but how do I get there? What am I doing wrong because I'm getting 5/a^-7

Answer 4

errr on the answer key it says the answer is 5/a^4

Answer 5

\[\frac{ 5a^3 }{ a^7 }=\frac{ 5 }{ a^{7-3} }=\frac{ 5 }{ a^4 }=5a^{-4}\]

Answer 6

Hmmm I see you're subtracting the denominator exponent by the numerator exponent. In my book examples it has the opposite where for the example question x^5/x^2 they subtract the numerator exponent by the denominator exponent to get x^3.

Is there some mathematical rule I'm missing?

Answer 7

nope, actually if you should subtract from the bigger to the smaller power , there is no set of rule for this

Answer 8

lets say this is an example \[\frac{ a^4 }{ a^2 }=a^{4-2}=a^2\] in other case you can take another example \[\frac{ a^3 }{ a^5 }=\frac{ 1 }{ a^{5-3} }=\frac{ 1 }{ a^2 }\]

Answer 9

this way you can get it done :D

Answer 10

Oh alright, thanks for explaining it to me. I get it now.

Answer 11

you are welcome :)