Q. Express the following fraction in simplest form, only using positive exponents.(−4p−2)412p−10Answer:
Simplify denominator: Simplify the denominator.We have the denominator as (−4p−2)4. When raising a power to a power, we multiply the exponents. Also, the negative sign raised to an even power will become positive.((−4p−2)4)=(−4)4×(p−2)4=256×p−8
Rewrite with positive exponents: Rewrite the expression with positive exponents.We can rewrite p−8 as 1/p8 to make the exponent positive.256×p−8=256/p8
Divide numerator by denominator: Divide the numerator by the denominator.Now we divide the original numerator by the simplified denominator.(12p−10)/(256/p8)= (12p−10)×(p8/256)
Simplify expression: Simplify the expression.We can multiply the p terms by adding the exponents and divide the coefficients.(12×p−10)×(p8/256)= (12/256)×p−10+8= (12/256)×p−2
Reduce coefficient fraction: Reduce the coefficient fraction.The fraction 25612 can be simplified by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 4.(25612)=643
Rewrite with positive exponents: Rewrite the final expression with positive exponents.We can rewrite p−2 as 1/p2 to make the exponent positive.(3/64)⋅p−2=(3/64)⋅(1/p2)
Combine coefficients and variables: Combine the coefficients and the variables.Now we combine the coefficients and the variables to express the final answer.(643)×(p21)=64p23
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