Question

How do you simplify the expression `(42a^5b^6)/(7a^2b^3)`?

Answer 1

`6a^3b^3`

Explanation:

The first simplification we can make involves the big numbers 42 and 7. Notice that 42 is a multiple of 7:

`42/7=6`, therefore the fraction can be changed to `(6a^5b^6)/(a^2b^3`.

Next, let's simplify those exponents. The rule is simple, and it's called the quotient of powers property:

`a^n/a^m=a^(n-m)`.

This property only works with powers that have the same base. Therefore, we can subtract the powers of the upper and lower letters that are the same:

`6a^(5-2)b^(6-3)=6a^3b^3`.