Question

How do you simplify `(a^-1b^2)/(ab) times (a^2b^3)/b^-2`?

Answer 1

`b^6`

Explanation:

`(color(red)(a^-1)b^2)/(ab) times (a^2b^3)/color(blue)(b^-2)`

Use the law of indices `x^-m = 1/x^m` to get rid of the negative indices.

=`(b^2)/(color(red)(a)ab) xx (a^2b^3color(blue)(b^2 ))/1" "larr"now simplify"`

=`(a^2b^7)/(a^2b)`

=`b^6`