How do you simplify #(22x^-6*y^4*z^10)/(11x^-2*y^12*z^-5)#?

1 Answer
Apr 2, 2015

Let's look at this problem split into fractions:

#22/11 * x^-6/x^-2 * y^4/y^12 * z^10/z^-5#

When you divide exponents of the same base, you are subtracting the power of the denominator from the power of the numerator:

#2 * x^(-6+2) * y^(4-12) * z^(10+5)#

#2x^-4y^-8z^15#

Sometimes it is preferred to express an answer without negative exponents. Since #x^-4# can be expressed as #1/x^4# and #y^-8# can be expressed as #1/y^8#:

#2x^-4y^-8z^15 = (2z^15)/(x^4y^8)#