Question

How do you multiply `\frac { 1} { y ^ { 12} } \times y ^ { - 4}`?

Answer 1

`1/y^16`

Explanation:

There are 2 options:

recall: `x^-m = 1/x^m`

Therefore: `1/y^12 xx color(red)(y^-4) = 1/y^12 xx 1/color(red)(y^4) = 1/y^16`

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Recall: `x^m/x^n = 1/x^(n-m) and n >m`

`1/y^12 xx color(blue)(y^-4) = 1/x^(12-color(blue)((-4)))`

`=1/x^(12color(blue)((+4))) = 1/y^16`