2x^-2y^0(x^2y^0-4x^-6y^4 Is this what you mean? 2x-2y0(x2y0 - 4x-6y4) If so, replace both y0's by 1. 2x-2·1(x2·1 - 4x-6y4) 2x-2(x2 - 4x-6y4) Now use the distributive principle: 2x-2·x2 - 8x-2·4x-6y4 Add the exponents of x in the first term: -2 + 2 = 0, so replace x-2·x2 by x0 2x0 - 8x-2·x-6y4 But x0 is just 1, so replace x0 by 1 2·1 - 8x-2x-6y4 2 - 8x-2x-6y4 Now add the exponents of x in the second term: -2 + -6 = -8. so replace x-2x-6 by x-8 2 - 8x-8y4 To get rid of the negative exponent in x-8, replace x-8 by 1/x8 2 - 8(1/x8)y4 Simplify the second term: 2 - 8y4/x8 Edwin AnlytcPhil@aol.com