Question

How do you simplify `x^5 /( x^2 y^-2)`?

Answer 1

`x^3/y^-2`

Explanation:

Let's look at the `x` terms first. We have

`x^5/x^2`

which would evaluate to `x^3`, because of the property `x^a/x^b=x^(a-b)`.

There is no other `y` terms except in the denominator, so it'll stay there. We have

`x^3/y^-2`

as our final answer.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

`y^2*x^3`

Explanation:

So, I think the important thing to talk about here is what `y^-2` means.

`y^-2` can also be rewritten as `1/y^2` because of the negative exponent. For example, `1^-5` is also `1/5`. This is simply the rule of negative exponents. It's an important one! I'd remember it.

So after knowing this, we can arrive at:
`x^5/x^2/y^2`

Then we cancel terms to achieve
`x^3/1/y^2`

Then just invert and multiply to obtain:
`y^2*x^3`