Rules for 

1. If M is less than N, then leave it as it is.

2. If M can be divided evenly by N, then it equals 


3. If M is greater than N, then do this division
where Q is the quotient and R is the remainder 

       Q
     N)M
       ...
        R  

Then it equals:





For the x³, since 3 is less than 4, we use rule 1 and do nothing 

For they y5, since 5 is greater than 4, we use rule 3
and do this division:
        
       1 
     4)5
       4
       1

and write:

 and dispose of the 1 exponents:


     
For the z8, since 8 can be divided evenly by 4, we
use rule 2 and we end up with



Edwin