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Exercises Polynomials and factoring

Example 6.90 from Elementary Algebra, 6.7 Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation

Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation: example 6.90

Simplify: ⓐ $\frac{1}{y^{−4}}$ ⓑ $\frac{1}{3^{−2}} .$

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Solution

ⓐ $9$

Use the property of a negative exponent, $\frac{1}{a^{− n}} = a^{n}$ . $y^{4}$

ⓑ $\frac{1}{3^{−2}}$

Use the property of a negative exponent, $\frac{1}{a^{− n}} = a^{n}$ . $3^{2}$

Simplify. $9$

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Simplify: ⓐ $\frac{1}{p^{−8}}$ ⓑ $\frac{1}{4^{−3}} .$

How did it go?

PreviousDivide Polynomials: example 6.88 Next Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation: example 6.91

From Elementary Algebra (1st edition) by OpenStax (Rice University), section 6.7, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original at openstax.org. We split the solution into steps; the words, numbers and figures are the book's. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.