SOLUTION: i hope i can explain this the right way. u^15/u^8 how do you divide this?

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Exponents -> SOLUTION: i hope i can explain this the right way. u^15/u^8 how do you divide this?      Log On

Ad: Algebrator™ solves your algebra problems and provides step-by-step explanations!
Ad: Algebra Solved!™: algebra software solves algebra homework problems with step-by-step help!

   

Question 35636: i hope i can explain this the right way. u^15/u^8 how do you divide this?
Found 3 solutions by rapaljer, stanbon, elima:
Answer by rapaljer(3742) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When you divide, you must subtract exponents!!
%28u%5E15%29%2F%28u%5E8%29+
u%5E%2815-8%29
u%5E7

R^2 at SCC

By the way, see my Lesson Plans on Laws of Exponents from algebra.com or from my own website under Basic Algebra, then Samples from Basic Algebra One Step at a Time, Chapter 2.

Answer by stanbon(29620) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
u^15/u^8
u^15 means u*u*u*............u*u (15 times)
u^8 means u*u*u*u.....u*u*u (8 times)
Eight of the u's will be canceled, leaving 7 u's in the numerator.
Answer: u^15/u^8 = u^7
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by elima(1433) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When you are dividing variables with exponents, you subtract the exponents;
u%5E15%2Fu%5E8+
u%5E%2815-8%29
u%5E7
=)