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Question 350745: Express the answer with positive exponents
(-a^2b-2b^-1)^3
Answer by haileytucki(390)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! (-a^(2)b-2b^(-1))^(3)
Remove the negative exponent in the numerator by rewriting -2b^(-1) as (2)/(b). A negative exponent follows the rule: a^(-n)=(1)/(a^(n)).
(-a^(2)b-(2)/(b))^(3)
To add fractions, the denominators must be equal. The denominators can be made equal by finding the least common denominator (LCD). In this case, the LCD is b. Next, multiply each fraction by a factor of 1 that will create the LCD in each of the fractions.
(-a^(2)b*(b)/(b)-(2)/(b))^(3)
Complete the multiplication to produce a denominator of b in each expression.
(-(a^(2)b^(2))/(b)-(2)/(b))^(3)
Combine the numerators of all expressions that have common denominators.
((-a^(2)b^(2)-2)/(b))^(3)
Expand the exponent of 3 to each factor in the expression (-a^(2)b^(2)-2).
((-a^(2)b^(2)-2)^(3))/((b)^(3))
Expand the exponent of 3 to each factor in the expression b.
-a^2b^2-2^3/b^3
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