How do you divide \frac { 42x ^ { 4} } { 18x ^ { 7} }?

1 Answer
Aug 3, 2017

7/(3x^3)

Explanation:

First of all, simplify 42/18

42/18 = 7/3

So (42x^4)/(18x^7) can also be expressed as (7x^4)/(3x^7)

Then, reduce the fraction with the powers by substracting them

x^7 - x^4 = x^3

And the question is where do you place the x^3 ? Well, it is part of the denominator with the 7 because x^7 was the biggest between x^4 so it goes to the denominator

The final answer is : 7/(3x^3)