Question

How do you simplify `12xy^-3`?

Answer 1

`12xy^-3 = (12x)/y^3`

Explanation:

Recall: `x^-m = 1/x^m`

In `12xy^-3` , the -3 applies only to the `y`.

`12xy^-3 = (12x)/y^3`

If the term had been like this:

`(12xy)^-3`, then the answer would be `1/(12xy)^3`