How do you simplify #a^-1/b^-1# and write it using only positive exponents?

2 Answers
Mar 1, 2017

Since #a^(-1)=1/a and b^(-1)=1/b#

Explanation:

#=1/adiv1/b#

Dividing by a fraction = multiplying with the inverse:

#=1/axxb/1=b/a#

Mar 1, 2017

#b/a#

Explanation:

When dealing with negative exponents the way I handle them is by knowing that a negative exponent is really just saying #1/a^x# so in this case #a^-1/b^-1# really just means #(1/a^1)/(1/b^1)# and so rewriting this we'll get #1/a *b/1# (I didn't include the exponents because #a^1# is just a).

Multiply and you'll get #b/a#