Q. Express the following fraction in simplest form, only using positive exponents.(−3b3)5−4b−1Answer:
Simplify Denominator: Simplify the denominator.The denominator is (−3b3)5. When raising a power to a power, you multiply the exponents.(−3b3)5=(−3)5×(b3)5=−243×b3×5=−243×b15
Rewrite Negative Exponent: Rewrite the negative exponent in the numerator as a positive exponent.The numerator is −4b−1. A negative exponent means that the base is on the wrong side of the fraction line, so we flip it to the other side to make the exponent positive.−4b−1=−b4
Combine Numerator and Denominator: Combine the rewritten numerator and the simplified denominator.Now we have −b4 divided by −243×b15.\left(-\frac{\(4\)}{b}\right) / \left(\(-243 \times b^{15}\right) = \left(-\frac{4}{b}\right) \times \left(\frac{1}{−243 \times b^{15}}\right)
Multiply Numerators and Denominators: Multiply the numerators and denominators.When multiplying fractions, you multiply the numerators together and the denominators together.(−4×1)/(b×−243×b15)=−4/(−243×b16)
Simplify Fraction: Simplify the fraction by dividing by the common factor and making the exponent positive.We can divide both the numerator and the denominator by −1 to make the fraction positive.−4/(−243∗b16)=4/(243∗b16)
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