How do you simplify $4(3a^4b^-2)^-1$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-05-18T14:30:20

$4((b^2)/(3a^4))$

If you have a negative exponent for example $x^(-1)$ it means the following:

Write as $(x^(-1))/1$ and turn upside down to give: $1/x$

In the same way: $x^(-2)->1/(x^2)$
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Given: $" "4(3a^4b^(-2))^(-1)$

Dealing with the negative exponent inside the brackets first

Write as: $4xx((3a^4)/(b^2))^-1$

Now dealing with the negative exponent outside the brackets

$4xx((b^2)/(3a^4)) -> 4((b^2)/(3a^4))$

How do you simplify 4(3a^4b^-2)^-14(3a^4b^-2)^-1?