How do you simplify #\frac { - 24x ^ { 5} y ^ { 3} } { 8x ^ { 2} y ^ { 8} }#?

Question

1521 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2018-05-15T01:17:59

This can be simplified to #(-3x^3)/y^5#.

This fraction is easier to solve if we break it down into many pieces. We can simplify these pieces individually and then combine them at the end.

#(-24x^5y^3)/(8x^2y^8)=(-24)/8*x^5/x^2*y^3/y^8#

First, we will solve the constant term through simply division.

#(-24)/8=-3#

Next, we will solve the #x# term.

#x^5/x^2#

When dividing exponents, we subtract the exponent of the bottom number from the exponent of the top number.

#5-2=3#

#x^3#

Now, we will solve the #y# term. We will follow the same pattern as before.

#y^3/y^8#

#3-8=-5#

#y^-5=1/y^5#

Finally, we combine all the terms.

#-3*x^3*1/y^5=(-3x^3)/y^5#