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View Full Version : Simplifiying exponents


moe6142
Feb 8, 2009, 12:48 PM
(12x^2y^-1)
(-----------------) ^-2
(-8x^-3y^4)

how do I simplify and write with positive exponents
the ^-2 is multiplied to all the exponents and coefficient

rwinterton
Feb 9, 2009, 08:13 AM
Remember that a negative exponent is simply the inverse of the same equation to a positive exponent.

So:

(X/Y)^-2 = (Y/X)^2