Question

Simplify expression. Use positive exponents.

a\[a^4b-^3/ab-^2\]

Can someone help me solve this and tell me the steps on how to do so? I don't get this at all

Answer 1

\[a^4b-^3/ab-^2\]

Answer 2

well whenever there is a negative exponent, like b^-3, it would then become 1/b^3

Answer 3

\[1/b^3\]?

Answer 4

\[\frac{ a^4*b ^{-3} }{ a*b ^{-2} } = \frac{ a ^{4-1} }{ b ^{-2+3} }\]

Answer 5

When you change a base to a power to the other side of the fraction, you change the sign on the power

Answer 6

and
multiplying like bases to powers, you add the powers

Answer 7

@DanJS thank you so much :~}

Answer 8

IE
a^4/a^1 = a^(4-1) = a^3

Answer 9

no prob, just have to remember the 4 or 5 power rules

Answer 10

@DanJS what type of problem is this? like is it rational or just and equatiom?

Answer 11

\[\frac{ 1a^4 }{ b ^{3} } / \frac{ 1 }{ ab ^2 }\] so then you would basically multiply by the recipricol, ending up in
\[\frac{ 1a^4 }{ b ^{3} } * \frac{ ab^2 }{ 1}\]
you would then end up having
\[\frac{ a ^{5} b ^{2} }{ b^3} \]
and according to the power rules, you would end up canceling out \[b ^{2}\], ending up with \[ \frac{ a ^{5} }{ b }\]

Answer 12

this is really just an expression problem so you aren't really solving for an actual numeric answer

Answer 13

\[\frac{ a^4*b ^{-3} }{ a*b ^{-2} } = \frac{ a^3 }{ b }\]

Answer 14

from the above

Answer 15

if you wanna check my work DanJS please do:)

Answer 16

WAIT don't look at my answer, I just realized I read your question wrong! Go with DanJS's answer:))