How do you simplify #12^-4/2^-4#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-11-27T19:24:43

#1/(2^4*3^4)#

Write 12 as the product of its prime factors, in that way there will be a power of 2 which can be simplified.

Recall a law of indices dealing with negative indices.

#x^-m = 1/x^m" and "1/x^-m = x^m#

#12^-4/2^-4 = 2^4/12^4#

=#2^4/(2^2xx3)^4#

=#2^4/(2^8 *3^4)#

=#1/(2^4*3^4)" "larr# subtract the indices of like bases