Question

How do you simplify `5x^-4` with positive exponents?

Answer 1

`5/x^4`

Explanation:

One of the laws of indices states: `x^-m = 1/x^m`

Note `5x^-4` is not the same as `(5x)^-4`

`5x^-4 = 5xx x^-4" just for clarity"`

=`5/x^4`

In the case of `(5x)^-4`, we would get `1/(5x)^4`