document.write( "Question 1144237: Hi, I just have a quick question about simplifying negative exponents. Does the coefficient of a variable stay with the number when factoring? i.e. Would 3m^-4 be simplified to 3/m^4, or would it be simplified to 1/3m^4? Thank you. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #765299 by MathTherapy(10552)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "Hi, I just have a quick question about simplifying negative exponents. Does the coefficient of a variable stay with the number when factoring? i.e. Would 3m^-4 be simplified to 3/m^4, or would it be simplified to 1/3m^4? Thank you.
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In this particular case, ONLY the \"m\" is being raised to the - 4th power. 
\n" ); document.write( "In other words, .
\n" ); document.write( "On the other hand if it were: \"%283m%29%5E%28-+4%29\", then we'd have: \"matrix%281%2C3%2C+3%5E%28-+4%29%2C+%22%2A%22%2C+m%5E%28-+4%29%29\". Understand? \n" ); document.write( "
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