You can
put this solution on YOUR website!Hello There:
You are correct when saying that a^(-n) = 1/a^n, but I like a different approach:
a^n/a^m = a^(n - m).
In other words, if the same variable appears in both the numerator and denominator, you can simplfy it by subracting the exponent in the denominator from the exponent in the numerator.
Your expression contains the variables a, b, and c in both the numerator and denominator, so this rule applies nicely.
[a^(-2)*b*c^(-5)]/[a^5*b*c^(-4)]
a^(-2 - 5)*b^(1-1)*c^(-5 + 4)
a^(-7)*b^0*c^(-1)
a^(-7)*c^(-1)
Now we can use the rule that you typed to get the simplified expression with no negative exponents.
1/(a^7*c)
~ Mark