Question

How do you write `2s^-5*s^3` using only positive exponents?

Answer 1

`2/s^2`

Explanation:

First, we will use this rule of exponents to combine the `s` terms:

`x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) + color(blue)(b))`

`2s^color(red)(-5) * s^color(blue)(3) = 2s^(color(red)(-5) + color(blue)(3)) = 2s^-2`

Now, we can use this rule of exponents to eliminate the negative exponent:

`x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)`

`2s^color(red)(-2) = 2/s^color(red)(- -2) = 2/s^2`