How do you simplify #(\frac { a ^ { 3} } { a ^ { 5} } ) ^ { 6}#?

2 Answers
Mar 7, 2018

#a^-12# or #1/a^12#

Explanation:

First, distribute the exponent.

#(a^3)^6/(a^5)^6#

Then simplify by multiplying the exponents.

#a^18/a^30#

Now for the final step, you have to do #a^(18-30)#, which simplifies to #a^-12#. If you want to leave it in fraction form to avoid the negative exponent, your answer would be #1/a^12#.

Mar 7, 2018

#1/a^12 or a^-12#

Explanation:

When you divide exponents you subtract them. So 3-5=-2. When you raise some power to another power, you don't add them, you multiply them. So -2(6)=-12. So the final answer is "a" raised to negative 12.