How do you simplify (\frac { 12a ^ { - 3} } { 4\sqrt { a } } )?

1 Answer
May 24, 2017

refer below

Explanation:

(12a^-3)/(4sqrta) = (12a^-3)/(4a^(1/2)

=(cancel(12)a^-3)/(cancel(4)a^(1/2)

=(3a^-3)/a^(1/2)

The division of "a" can be done as such: a^-3/a^(1/2) = a^(-3-1/2)

(Alternatively, if we have a^-3*a^(1/2) = a^(-3+1/2))

This can be done when the exponents have the same base ie "a".

=3a^(-3-1/2)

=3a^-(7/2)