How do you simplify (\frac { a ^ { 3} } { a ^ { 5} } ) ^ { 6}?

2 Answers
Mar 7, 2018

a^-12 or 1/a^12

Explanation:

First, distribute the exponent.

(a^3)^6/(a^5)^6

Then simplify by multiplying the exponents.

a^18/a^30

Now for the final step, you have to do a^(18-30), which simplifies to a^-12. If you want to leave it in fraction form to avoid the negative exponent, your answer would be 1/a^12.

Mar 7, 2018

1/a^12 or a^-12

Explanation:

When you divide exponents you subtract them. So 3-5=-2. When you raise some power to another power, you don't add them, you multiply them. So -2(6)=-12. So the final answer is "a" raised to negative 12.