Question

How do you simplify `a^-1/b^-1` and write it using only positive exponents?

Answer 1

Since `a^(-1)=1/a and b^(-1)=1/b`

Explanation:

`=1/adiv1/b`

Dividing by a fraction = multiplying with the inverse:

`=1/axxb/1=b/a`

Answer 2

`b/a`

Explanation:

When dealing with negative exponents the way I handle them is by knowing that a negative exponent is really just saying `1/a^x` so in this case `a^-1/b^-1` really just means `(1/a^1)/(1/b^1)` and so rewriting this we'll get `1/a *b/1` (I didn't include the exponents because `a^1` is just a).

Multiply and you'll get `b/a`