SOLUTION: multiply: -3a^2b 14a^3b^2 ------ * --------- 35a^5 -9b^4 If this was simpler I could figure it out, but with so many letters in it I have just become lost! Th

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: multiply: -3a^2b 14a^3b^2 ------ * --------- 35a^5 -9b^4 If this was simpler I could figure it out, but with so many letters in it I have just become lost! Th      Log On


   

Question 66395: multiply:
-3a^2b 14a^3b^2
------ * ---------
35a^5 -9b^4
If this was simpler I could figure it out, but with so many letters in it I have just become lost! Thank you for the help!!!!

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Multiply:
%28%28-3a%5E2b%29%2F35a%5E5%29%2A%28%2814a%5E3b%5E2%29%2F-9b%5E4%29%29 Ok, let's take it one step at-a-time.
First look at the numbers.
Do you see that you can cancel a -3 in the numerator of the first fraction and the -9 in the denominator of the second fraction, leaving a 3 in the denominator of the second fraction?
%28%28a%5E2b%29%2F%2835a%5E5%29%29%2A%28%2814a%5E3b%5E2%29%2F%283b%5E4%29%29 Now do you see that the 14 and the 35 are both divisible by 7? Then let's divide them by 7.
%28a%5E2b%2F5a%5E5%29%2A%282a%5E3b%5E2%2F3b%5E4%29 Now we can look at the variables, a and b.
Remember the rules for dividing factors with exponents?
If the base is the same (in this case, the bases are a and b), you subtract the exponents. Let's do the a's first and see what we get!
%28a%5E%282-2%29b%2F5a%5E%285-2%29%29%2A%282a%5E3b%5E2%2F3b%5E4%29 Simplifying this a bit and remembering that a%5E0+=+1
%28b%2F5a%5E3%29%2A%282a%5E3b%5E2%2F3b%5E4%29 Now we can do the same thing with the a%5E3s
%28b%2F5%29%2A%282b%5E2%2F3b%5E4%29 Now do the b's
%28b%2F5%29%2A%282%2F3b%5E2%29 Finally, cancel the b's and simplify.
%281%2F5%29%2A%282%2F3b%29 = 2%2F15b...and there it is!