How do you simplify #frac { 2n ^ { - 4} } { 7n ^ { - 2} }#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-30T10:16:21

See a solution process below:

First, rewrite the expression as:

#2/7 xx n^-4/n^-2#

Next, use this rule for exponents to simplify the #n# terms:

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

#2/7 xx n^color(red)(-4)/n^color(blue)(-2) =>#

#2/7 xx 1/n^(color(blue)(-2)-color(red)(-4)) =>#

#2/7 xx 1/n^(color(blue)(-2)+color(red)(4)) =>#

#2/7 xx 1/n^2 =>#

#2/(7n^2)#