How do you simplify #\frac { - 12} { - 14a ^ { - 4} }#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-09-13T19:40:48

See a solution process below:

First, rewrite the expression as:

#((-12)/-14)(1/a^-4) =>#

#((-2 xx 6)/(-2 xx 7))(1/a^-4) =>#

#((color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-2))) xx 6)/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(-2))) xx 7))(1/a^-4) =>#

#6/7(1/a^-4)#

Now, use this rule of exponents to complete the simplification:

#1/x^color(red)(a) = x^color(red)(-a)#

#6/7(1/a^color(red)(-4)) =>#

#6/7 a^color(red)(- -4) =>#

#6/7 a^4#

Or

#(6a^4)/7#