Question

How do you simplify `(\frac { a ^ { 3} } { a ^ { 5} } ) ^ { 6}`?

Answer 1

`a^-12` or `1/a^12`

Explanation:

First, distribute the exponent.

`(a^3)^6/(a^5)^6`

Then simplify by multiplying the exponents.

`a^18/a^30`

Now for the final step, you have to do `a^(18-30)`, which simplifies to `a^-12`. If you want to leave it in fraction form to avoid the negative exponent, your answer would be `1/a^12`.

Answer 2

`1/a^12 or a^-12`

Explanation:

When you divide exponents you subtract them. So 3-5=-2. When you raise some power to another power, you don't add them, you multiply them. So -2(6)=-12. So the final answer is "a" raised to negative 12.