How do you simplify # (3/y)^4#?

1 Answer
Aug 30, 2016

You can simplify it to #(3^4/y^4)# or #(81/y^4)#

Explanation:

So one of the properties of exponents is that they distribute.
For example, if you have #(x)^3#, it distributes to be #x^3#.

In a better example, #(2/3)^2# is equal to #(2^2/3^2)#. This is equal to #((2 * 2)/(3 * 3))# and #(4/9)#.

So, taking your problem into my hands, we have #(3/y)^4# which can be simplified to #(3^4/y^4)# and that to #((3*3*3*3)/y)# and that to #(81/y^4)#.

If an exponent is outside of a fraction, it distributes to both the numerator and denominator.

Have a good day!