How do you write #2s^-5*s^3# using only positive exponents?

1 Answer
Feb 13, 2017

#2/s^2#

Explanation:

First, we will use this rule of exponents to combine the #s# terms:

#x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) + color(blue)(b))#

#2s^color(red)(-5) * s^color(blue)(3) = 2s^(color(red)(-5) + color(blue)(3)) = 2s^-2#

Now, we can use this rule of exponents to eliminate the negative exponent:

#x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)#

#2s^color(red)(-2) = 2/s^color(red)(- -2) = 2/s^2#