document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=228007>Question 228007</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Simplify and express using positive exponents.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "NUMERATOR IS:  12a^7 + 16a^5 - 8a^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "DENOMERATOR IS:  -4a^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I do not know ALT keystrokes to express the fraction exactly as shown. I know the answer is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-3a^5 - 4a^3 + 2)but I have no idea why or how. Why is the answer not a fraction? fyi {12a^7= 12a to the seventh power} ect...  Is there an affordable calculator I can buy that will compute the problem?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #169365 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=JenniferTutors><B>JenniferTutors(83)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-08.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=JenniferTutors><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=JenniferTutors><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=169365\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ok, this is how the problem looks:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2812a%5E7%2B16a%5E5-8a%5E2%29%2F%28-4a%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2812a%5E7%2B16a%5E5-8a%5E2%29%2F%28-4a%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, in looking at the numerator, find the lowest common factor to simplify. What number can go into 12, 16, and -8?  There are numbers that can go in, like 2, but since 4 also can go in, we would use that one because it is larger. Those numbers also have the letter \"a\" attached to each. You would take 2 a's because every number has at least 2 a's. So, now you have 4a, you would divide that into the equation <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2812a%5E7%2B16a%5E5-8a%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2812a%5E7%2B16a%5E5-8a%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >So, to simplify it would look like this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%284a%5E2%29%283a%5E5%2B4a%5E3-2%29%2F%28-4a%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%284a%5E2%29%283a%5E5%2B4a%5E3-2%29%2F%28-4a%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, you would cross out the \"4a\" and you're left with your answer. (The negative sign would transfer to the top. </SPAN>\n" );
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