SOLUTION: WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO: 3x to the neg.9 exponent times 5x to the 5th exponent over 18x to the neg 4 exponent. Tried to type it but couldn't get negative sign to work. my ans

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO: 3x to the neg.9 exponent times 5x to the 5th exponent over 18x to the neg 4 exponent. Tried to type it but couldn't get negative sign to work. my ans      Log On


   

Question 360535: WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO:
3x to the neg.9 exponent times 5x to the 5th exponent over 18x to the neg 4 exponent.
Tried to type it but couldn't get negative sign to work.
my answer is to add the two exponents -9 from 3x and 5 from 5x variable and got -4 exponent. Then multiplied 3 times 5 so = 15x to the -4 as numerator and 18x to the -4 for denominator. = 15x to the 0 as numerator over 18 for denominator. Now I don't know what to do with the 15x to the 0. I know x to the 0=1 so is 15x to the 0=15? Making my final answer 15/18=5/6 ?
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


You have it right.  There are two ways to go from the next to the last step:

%283x%5E%28-9%295x%5E5%29%2F%2818x%5E%28-4%29%29

%283%2A5x%5E%28-4%29%29%2F%2818x%5E%28-4%29%29

%2815x%5E%28-4%29%29%2F%2818x%5E%28-4%29%29

As I said above, there are two ways you can go from here.
You subtracted exponents and got

%2815x%5E0%29%2F18

and then replaced the x%5E0 by 1,

%2815%281%29%29%2F18

15%2F18

which reduces to 5%2F6

-------------------------------

The other way to go from

%2815x%5E%28-4%29%29%2F%2818x%5E%28-4%29%29

is to cancel the x%5E%28-4%29's

%2815cross%28x%5E%28-4%29%29%29%2F%2818cross%28x%5E%28-4%29%29%29

and get 15%2F18 which reduces to 5%2F6

Edwin