Question

In simplified exponential notation, the expression a²·a -3·a=

Answer 1

-3 is the exponent

Answer 2

Did you learn that a*a is written in "short-hand" as \(a^2\)
and a*a*a is \( a^3\)
and a*a*a*a is \(a^4\)
?

in your question
\[ a^2·a^{ -3}·a= ?\]
you can change the order of multiplying, like this
\[ a^2 \cdot a \cdot a^{-3} \]
now what is a^2 ? it is the same as a*a
\[ a·a·a·a^{-3} \]

Answer 3

you should also know that
\[ a^{-3} \text{ is the same as } \frac{1}{a·a·a} \]

your problem is
\[ \frac{a·a·a}{a·a·a} \]
any idea what that is ?