SOLUTION: Ok I'm trying to help my little brother and I can not remember if the expression is say (2a/3b) to the power of 2 and we need to simplify the expression can we put a&b together so

Algebra ->  Exponents-negative-and-fractional -> SOLUTION: Ok I'm trying to help my little brother and I can not remember if the expression is say (2a/3b) to the power of 2 and we need to simplify the expression can we put a&b together so      Log On


   

Question 619452: Ok I'm trying to help my little brother and I can not remember if the expression is say (2a/3b) to the power of 2 and we need to simplify the expression can we put a&b together so (.66ab) power of 2?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can do 2/3 = 0.66, but you cannot divide a/b to get ab. Here's how you do this.


%28%282a%29%2F%283b%29%29%5E2


%28%282a%29%5E2%29%2F%283b%29%5E2%29


%282%5E2%2Aa%5E2%29%2F%283%5E2%2Ab%5E2%29


%284a%5E2%29%2F%289b%5E2%29


So %28%282a%29%2F%283b%29%29%5E2 simplifies to %284a%5E2%29%2F%289b%5E2%29


In other words, %28%282a%29%2F%283b%29%29%5E2=%284a%5E2%29%2F%289b%5E2%29 for all values of 'a' and 'b' where b is not zero.