Question

How do you simplify `\frac { w ^ { 4} } { w ^ { - 7} \cdot w ^ { - 2} \cdot w }`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, use these rules of exponents to simplify the denominator:

`a = a^color(red)(1)` and `x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) + color(blue)(b))`

`w^4/(w^color(red)(-7) * w^color(blue)(-2) * w^color(green)(1)) =>`

`w^4/w^(color(red)(-7)+color(blue)(-2)+color(green)(1)) =>`

`w^4/w^-8`

Now, use this rule of exponents to complete the simplification:

`w^color(red)(4)/w^color(blue)(-8) => w^(color(red)(4)-color(blue)(-8)) => w^(color(red)(4)+color(blue)(8)) => w^12`