Question 64579
To find the quotient of (36x^7)/(3x^3)

Well, first we know that 36/3=12

So we can do that and rewrite the problem as:
12(x^7)/(x^3)

We also know that x^7 is (x)(x)(x)(x)(x)(x)(x) and x^3 is (x)(x)(x)

Now we can see that by dividing x^7 by x^3, we simply cancel out three of the seven x's in the numerator leaving (x)(x)(x)(x) or x^4 
 
So  (36x^7)/(3x^3) must =12x^4

Another way to work it is as follows:

(36/3)(x^(7-3))=12x^4

Remember when dividing exponents, you subtract them and when multiplying exponents, you add them.

Hope this helps.  Happy holidays----ptaylor