Question 237216
 12a to the 3rd power.. over 4b to the 2nd power.
{{{(12a^3)/(4b^2)}}}
All you can do here is cancel the 4 into the 12
{{{(3a^3)/(b^2)}}}
a & b are unlike terms, so that's all you can do with it
:
(16a)to the 2nd power over (16a)cube.
{{{(16a^2)/(16a^3)}}}
First 16/16 is one so they cancel and you have
{{{a^2/a^3}}}
When you divide like terms you subtract the exponents, in this one
{{{1/a^(3-2)}}} = {{{1/a^1}}} which is just {{{1/a}}}
:
The other rules are simple
when you multiply like terms you add the exponent ex: a^5 * a^2 = a^7
When you raise one power to another power you multiply exponents: ex (a^4)^2 = a^8