SOLUTION: Simplify (-3a^3b^2)(4ab)/ 2a^7b in at least TWO ways. Explain each step. Please help me with this and can you add the steps because they will help me figure out what I am doing w

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Question 1014033: Simplify (-3a^3b^2)(4ab)/ 2a^7b in at least TWO ways. Explain each step.
Please help me with this and can you add the steps because they will help me figure out what I am doing wrong.

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Simplify (-3a^3b^2)(4ab)/ 2a^7b in at least TWO ways. Explain each step.
-----
1st:: [-3a^3b^2*4ab]/(2a^7b)
---
= [-12a^4b^3]/(2a^7b)
----
= -6b^2/a^3
==========
2nd:: (-3a^3b^2)
------
= -3a^3b^2
------
= -6b^2/a^3
=====
Cheers,
Stan H.
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Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Method 1: By writing the exponents as repeated multiplications,
breaking 4 into prime factors and cancelling:













----------------------------------------------------------------


Method 2: By adding exponents to multiply and then subtracting
exponents to divide:





Divide the -12 on the top by the 2 on the bottom, getting -6 on the
top.

Subtract the exponents of "a", 7-4 getting exponent 3 and putting 
a3 on the bottom because the larger exponent of "a" was 
on the bottom.

Subtract the exponents of "b", 3-1 (understood) getting exponent 2 
and putting b2 on the top because the larger exponent of 
"b" was on the top. 



Edwin


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