Question

what are the steps I need to do to simplify 1 over A to the third power?

Answer 1

Can you write it out first? (in algebraic terms, the equation button will help you)

Answer 2

so like 1/a * 1/a* 1/a ?

Answer 3

Well, there are a few ways of interpreting this but yes, that is one of the ways

Answer 4

ok good.

Answer 5

so just condense it into 1 fraction

Answer 6

1/a^3 ?

Answer 7

mhmm now the last thing you can do is factor out the cube from the top and bottome

Answer 8

How do I do that?

Answer 9

So \[\frac{1}{a^3}=\frac{1^3}{a^3}\] Do you agree?

Answer 10

yes.

Answer 11

So now if I told you (with a,b,n being any real number):
\[\frac{a^n}{b^n}=(\frac{a}{b})^n\]
Can you simplify our eq.

Answer 12

no.

Answer 13

Why?

Answer 14

I dont quite understand it.

Answer 15

\[\frac{1}{a^3}=\frac{1^3}{a^3}\]
\[\frac{a^n}{b^n}=(\frac{a}{b})^n\]
Do they look anything alike?

Answer 16

Yes except one of them has parentheses.

Answer 17

But do you notice what happened to the exponents when the parentheses went around the fraction?

Answer 18

Oh I see, if you put exponents around it it effects the whole thing

Answer 19

yup

Answer 20

So what will ours become

Answer 21

sorry

Answer 22

that was weird

Answer 23

o.O?

Answer 24

I still do not understand how to solve this.

Answer 25

No I'm confused haha, you already did it. What are ya missing?

Answer 26

oh. is that it? (1/a)^3 ?

Answer 27

mhmm, I'd list all three though because it could be interpreted all three ways depending on how the original problem was written

Answer 28

Oh I see thank you very much

Answer 29

np