Question

How do you simplify `(3a^7 - a^5 + 5a^3)/(a^2)`?

Answer 1

You can factor out what's multiplying all the terms in the numerator:

`(a^3(3a^4-a^2+5))/a^2`

We can verify this is correct using the property that states `a^n*a^m=a^(n+m)`.

Then, we can cancel the denominator using the following property:

`a^n/a^m=a^(n-m)`

`(a^cancel(3)(3a^4-a^2+5))/cancel(a^2)=a(3a^4-a^2+5)`