Question

How do you use the laws of exponents to simplify the expression `(30x^10 y^4)/ (-5x^12y^2)`?

Answer 1

`(30x^10 y^4)/ (-5x^12y^2)`

`= (30/-5)(x^10/x^12)(y^4/y^2)`

We know that `color(blue)(a^m/a^n = a^(m-n)`

`= -6 * x^(10-12) * y^(4-2)`

`= -6*x^-2*y^2`

`=color(green)(( -6 y^2)/x^2`