Question

Which expression is equivalent to 15a^9b^4 over 5a^5b?
Assume the denominator does not equal 0.

A. 10a^4b^3
B. 3a^4b^4
C. 10a^4b^4
D. 3a^4b^3

Answer 1

\[\frac{ 15a^9b^4 }{ 5a^5b }\]

Answer 2

So do the numbers first: 15 divided by 5.

Answer 3

3

Answer 4

Ok. Now \[\frac{ a^9 }{ a^5 }\] is the same as \[\frac{ a*a*a*a*a*a*a*a*a }{ a*a*a*a*a }\].
5 of the a's cancel, and there are no more a's in the denominator. What does it become?

Answer 5

3a^4

Answer 6

The property for variable to a power divided by the same variable to a power is that you subtract the powers, so in the example you subtract 9 - 5 and get a^4.
Yes, now same thing with b^4 / b

Answer 7

3a^4b?