Question #85def

1 Answer
mason m
Aug 31, 2017

#(-5)^3/(-5^3)=1#

Explanation:

#(-5)^3/(-5^3)#

The issue here is dealing with the negatives. We should note that the minus sign in the numerator is contained within the power of #3#, whereas there is a single, standalone minus #1# in the denominator which is multiplied by #5^3#. Rewriting to clarify, then, we have:

#=([-1(5)]^3)/(-1(5^3))#

Distributing the power:

#=((-1)^3 5^3)/(-1(5^3))#

Note that #(-1)^3=(-1)(-1)(-1)=-1#:

#=(-1*5^3)/(-1*5^3)#

#=1#

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