Question

How do you simplify the expression `x^8/x^4` using the properties?

Answer 1

`x^8/x^4=x^(8-4)=x^4`. See below for more ways to get to this answer.

Explanation:

We can do this a few ways:

• Use `x^a/x^b=x^(a-b)`

We can take `x^8/x^4=x^(8-4)=x^4`

• Use `(x^a)^b=x^(ab)`

We can rewrite the numerator:

`x^8/x^4=(x^(4xx2))/x^4=(x^4)^2/x^4=(x^4x^4)/x^4=x^4`

• Use `x^axxx^b=x^(a+b)`

We can rewrite the numerator in a different way:

`x^8/x^4=(x^(4+4))/x^4=(x^4x^4)/x^4=x^4`