How do you divide #y^ { - \frac { 11} { 6} } \div y ^ { - \frac { 5} { 2} }#?

1 Answer
May 11, 2017

#y^(2/3)#

Explanation:

Rewrite it as a fraction:

#y^(-11/6)/y^(-5/2)#

If you have a negative exponent in the numerator, you can rewrite it with a positive exponent on the denominator and vice versa. I will rewrite #y^(-5/2) on the top:

#y^(-11/6)y^(5/2)#

Now you can add the exponents together:

#y^(5/2-11/6)#

Make common denominators:

#y^(15/6-11/6)#

Subtract:

#y^(4/6)#

Simplify:

#y^(2/3)#