How to solve this? a^5y^8/ey^2/a^3w^2/w^5y^2

[mallorymal]

We did these earlier in the year. I kind of forgot how to do it.

a^5y^8 a^3w^2
--------- / -----------
wy^7 w^5y^2

Since it's dividing, I flipped the second fraction around. I'm just not so sure on what to do next.

 

[stapel]

We did these earlier in the year. I kind of forgot how to do it.

I will guess that you mean the following:

. . . . .[ (a[sup:126iwy0l]5[/sup:126iwy0l]y[sup:126iwy0l]8[/sup:126iwy0l]) / (wy[sup:126iwy0l]7[/sup:126iwy0l] ] / [ (a[sup:126iwy0l]3[/sup:126iwy0l]w[sup:126iwy0l]2[/sup:126iwy0l]) / (w[sup:126iwy0l]5[/sup:126iwy0l]y[sup:126iwy0l]2[/sup:126iwy0l]) ]

...and that the instructions were to "simplify", rather than to "solve". Since you have no memory of how to do this sort of simplification, and since we cannot replicate the forgotten hours of classroom instruction, please consider studying some of the many great lessons available online. :idea:

You will need to start by reviewing the rules for exponents:

. . . . .Google results for "exponents rules"

Once you have re-memorized these rules, you can study some lessons with worked examples, showing how to simplify expressions by applying these exponent rules:

. . . . .Google results for "simplify exponents"

After you have studied some lessons (at least two from each link!) and have learned the basic terms and techniques, please attempt your exercise. If you get stuck, please reply showing all of your steps and reasoning so far. Thank you!

Eliz.

 

[Loren]

What happens if you multiply both numerator and denominator by the multiplicative identity of the denominator? And, why is this a legal maneuver?

\(\displaystyle \frac{\frac{a^5y^8}{wy^7}}{\frac{a^3w^2}{w^5y^2}}\cdot \frac{\frac{w^5y^2}{a^3w^2}}{\frac{w^5y^2}{a^3w^2}}= ??\)