Question

How do you simplify `\frac { - 2m ^ { 6} n ^ { 5} } { - 8m ^ { 6} }`?

Answer 1

Divide out common factors leaving
`n^5/4`

Explanation:

`-2 m^6n^5 = -1 xx 2 xx m^6 xx n^5`

`-8m^6 = -1 xx 2 xx 4 xx m^6 xx n^5`

The common factors are `-1 xx 2 xx m^6`

`(n-1 xx 2 xx m^6 xx n^5) /( -1 xx 2 xx m^6) = n^5`

`(-1 xx 2 xx 4 xx m^6)/(-1 xx 2 xx m^6) = 4` so the result is

`n^5/4`