Question

How do you multiply `w^ { - 2} \cdot w ^ { 4} \cdot w ^ { - 3}`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, use this rule of exponents to multiply the terms:

`x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) + color(blue)(b))`

`w^color(red)(-2) * w^color(blue)(4) * w^color(green)(-3) = w^(color(red)(-2)+color(blue)(4)+color(green)(-3)) = w^-1`

Now, use these rules of exponents to eliminate the negative exponent:

`x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)` and `a^color(red)(1) = a`

`w^color(red)(-1) = 1/w^color(red)(- -1) = 1/w^color(red)(1) = 1/w`