How do you evaluate 5^ { 2} \cdot 5^ { - 6}?

1 Answer
Sep 25, 2017

1/625

Explanation:

We will apply this rule:

x^y*x^z=x^(y+z)

5^-6*5^2=5^(2-6)=5^(-4)

Then we use this:

x^-y=1/(x^y)

Therefore, 5^-4 is the same as 1/(5^4)
5^4=625

The fraction will be 1/625.