How do you simplify #8^2 / 8^4#?

2 Answers
May 2, 2018

#1/8^2 or 8^-2#

Explanation:

if you are dividing like terms with powers then you subtract the powers

#x^a/x^b =x^(a-b)#

so 2-4=-2

If you imagine #(8xx8)/(8xx8xx8xx8)# then you can cancel two of

the 8s on the top and bottom, leaving two 8s on the bottom.

May 2, 2018

#1/64#

Explanation:

#8^2/8^4# is basically #8^2*8^-4#
Using power law.
#8^2*8^-4#=#8^(2-4)#
=#8^-2#
=#1/8^2#
=#1/64#