Hi, Can you please show me the steps needed to solve this? ((3^-2)^a).((3^b)^(-2a)) ---------------------- ((3^-2)^b).((9^-b)^(3a)) three to the negative two to the a times three to the b to the negative two a divided by three to the negative two to the b times nine to the negative b to the three a Thanks in advance!! Ray (3-2)a(3b)-2a --------------- (3-2)b(9-b)3a First multiply the outer exponents by the inner exponents to remove the parentheses: 3-2a3-2ab ----------- 3-2b9-3ab Rewrite the 9 as (32) 3-2a3-2ab -------------- 3-2b(32)-3ab Remove the parentheses by multiplying the outer exponent -3ab by the inner exponent 2, getting -6ab: 3-2a3-2ab ----------- 3-2b3-6ab Get rid of each negative exponent by using the rules: 1. To get rid of a negative exponent in the numerator, move the base and exponent from the numerator to the denominator and change the sign of the exponent to positive. 2. To get rid of a negative exponent in the denominator, move the base and exponent from the denominator to the numerator and change the sign of the exponent to positive. So move the 3-2a from the top to the bottom as 32a, move the 3-2ab from the top to the bottom as 32ab, move the 3-2b from the bottom to the top as 32b, and move the 3-6ab from the bottom to the top as 36ab 32b36ab --------- 32a32ab Now on the top we add the exponents of 3, which are 2b and 6ab, getting 2b+6ab On the bottom we also add the exponents of 3, which are 2a and 2ab, getting 2a+2ab 32b+6ab --------- 32a+2ab Finally we subtract exponents (2b+6ab)-(2a+2ab) 3(2a+6ab)-(2a+2ab) 32b+6ab-2a-2ab 32b-2a+4ab or if you like, factor out 2 in the exponent: 32(b-a+2ab) Edwin