Question

How do you simplify the expression `(108a^8)/(12a^4b^3)`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, rewrite the expression as:

`108/12(a^8/a^4)(1/b^3) => 9(a^8/a^4)(1/b^3) => 9/b^3(a^8/a^4)`

We can now use this rule for exponents to simplify the `a` terms:

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

`9/b^3(a^color(red)(8)/a^color(blue)(4)) => 9/b^3a^(color(red)(8)-color(blue)(4)) => (9a^4)/b^3`