Applying the Rules of Exponents and Fractions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 105 views

Understanding the Problem

To simplify the given quotient, we need to apply the rules of exponents and fractions. The quotient is $\frac{2 m^9 n^4}{-4 m^{-3} n^{-2}}$ , and we are asked to simplify it in its simplest form.

Applying the Rules of Exponents and Fractions

To simplify the quotient, we can start by simplifying the fraction. We can do this by dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). In this case, the GCD of 2 and -4 is 2.

\frac{2 m^9 n^4}{-4 m^{-3} n^{-2}} = \frac{1 m^9 n^4}{-2 m^{-3} n^{-2}}

Simplifying the Exponents

Next, we can simplify the exponents by applying the rule of negative exponents. When we have a negative exponent, we can rewrite it as a positive exponent by taking the reciprocal of the base.

\frac{1 m^9 n^4}{-2 m^{-3} n^{-2}} = \frac{1 m^9 n^4}{-2} \cdot \frac{m^3 n^2}{1}

Combining the Terms

Now, we can combine the terms by multiplying the numerators and denominators.

\frac{1 m^9 n^4}{-2} \cdot \frac{m^3 n^2}{1} = \frac{m^{9+3} n^{4+2}}{-2}

Simplifying the Exponents

We can simplify the exponents by adding the exponents of the same base.

\frac{m^{9+3} n^{4+2}}{-2} = \frac{m^{12} n^6}{-2}

Final Simplification

Finally, we can simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their GCD, which is 2.

\frac{m^{12} n^6}{-2} = -\frac{m^{12} n^6}{2}

Conclusion

Therefore, the quotient $\frac{2 m^9 n^4}{-4 m^{-3} n^{-2}}$ in simplest form is $-\frac{m^{12} n^6}{2}$ .

Answer Choice

The correct answer is A. $-\frac{m^{12} n^6}{2}$ .

Discussion

This problem requires the application of the rules of exponents and fractions to simplify the given quotient. The key steps involve simplifying the fraction, applying the rule of negative exponents, combining the terms, and finally simplifying the exponents. The correct answer is A. $-\frac{m^{12} n^6}{2}$ .

Additional Examples

Here are some additional examples of simplifying quotients with exponents:

$\frac{3 x^5 y^3}{-6 x^{-2} y^{-1}} = -\frac{x^7 y^4}{2}$
$\frac{2 a^4 b^2}{-4 a^{-1} b^{-3}} = -\frac{a^5 b^5}{2}$
$\frac{5 c^3 d^2}{-10 c^{-2} d^{-1}} = -\frac{c^5 d^3}{2}$

These examples demonstrate the application of the rules of exponents and fractions to simplify quotients with exponents.

Final Thoughts

Simplifying quotients with exponents requires a thorough understanding of the rules of exponents and fractions. By applying these rules, we can simplify complex expressions and arrive at the correct answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the quotient $\frac{3 x^5 y^3}{-6 x^{-2} y^{-1}}$ in simplest form?

A: To simplify the quotient, we can start by simplifying the fraction. We can do this by dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). In this case, the GCD of 3 and -6 is 3.

\frac{3 x^5 y^3}{-6 x^{-2} y^{-1}} = \frac{x^5 y^3}{-2 x^{-2} y^{-1}}

Next, we can simplify the exponents by applying the rule of negative exponents. When we have a negative exponent, we can rewrite it as a positive exponent by taking the reciprocal of the base.

\frac{x^5 y^3}{-2 x^{-2} y^{-1}} = \frac{x^5 y^3}{-2} \cdot \frac{x^2 y}{1}

Now, we can combine the terms by multiplying the numerators and denominators.

\frac{x^5 y^3}{-2} \cdot \frac{x^2 y}{1} = \frac{x^{5+2} y^{3+1}}{-2}

We can simplify the exponents by adding the exponents of the same base.

\frac{x^{5+2} y^{3+1}}{-2} = \frac{x^7 y^4}{-2}

Finally, we can simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their GCD, which is 2.

\frac{x^7 y^4}{-2} = -\frac{x^7 y^4}{2}

Therefore, the quotient $\frac{3 x^5 y^3}{-6 x^{-2} y^{-1}}$ in simplest form is $-\frac{x^7 y^4}{2}$ .

Q: How do I simplify a quotient with exponents when the bases are the same?

A: When the bases are the same, we can simplify the quotient by subtracting the exponents of the same base.

\frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n}

For example, $\frac{a^3}{a^2} = a^{3-2} = a^1 = a$ .

Q: What is the quotient $\frac{2 a^4 b^2}{-4 a^{-1} b^{-3}}$ in simplest form?

\frac{2 a^4 b^2}{-4 a^{-1} b^{-3}} = \frac{a^4 b^2}{-2 a^{-1} b^{-3}}

Next, we can simplify the exponents by applying the rule of negative exponents. When we have a negative exponent, we can rewrite it as a positive exponent by taking the reciprocal of the base.

\frac{a^4 b^2}{-2 a^{-1} b^{-3}} = \frac{a^4 b^2}{-2} \cdot \frac{a^1 b^3}{1}

Now, we can combine the terms by multiplying the numerators and denominators.

\frac{a^4 b^2}{-2} \cdot \frac{a^1 b^3}{1} = \frac{a^{4+1} b^{2+3}}{-2}

We can simplify the exponents by adding the exponents of the same base.

\frac{a^{4+1} b^{2+3}}{-2} = \frac{a^5 b^5}{-2}

Finally, we can simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their GCD, which is 2.

\frac{a^5 b^5}{-2} = -\frac{a^5 b^5}{2}

Therefore, the quotient $\frac{2 a^4 b^2}{-4 a^{-1} b^{-3}}$ in simplest form is $-\frac{a^5 b^5}{2}$ .

Q: How do I simplify a quotient with exponents when the bases are different?

A: When the bases are different, we cannot simplify the quotient by subtracting the exponents of the same base. Instead, we can simplify the quotient by dividing the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD).

\frac{a^m}{b^n} = \frac{a^m}{1} \cdot \frac{1}{b^n}

For example, $\frac{a^3}{b^2} = \frac{a^3}{1} \cdot \frac{1}{b^2} = \frac{a^3}{b^2}$ .

Q: What is the quotient $\frac{5 c^3 d^2}{-10 c^{-2} d^{-1}}$ in simplest form?

\frac{5 c^3 d^2}{-10 c^{-2} d^{-1}} = \frac{c^3 d^2}{-2 c^{-2} d^{-1}}

Next, we can simplify the exponents by applying the rule of negative exponents. When we have a negative exponent, we can rewrite it as a positive exponent by taking the reciprocal of the base.

\frac{c^3 d^2}{-2 c^{-2} d^{-1}} = \frac{c^3 d^2}{-2} \cdot \frac{c^2 d}{1}

Now, we can combine the terms by multiplying the numerators and denominators.

\frac{c^3 d^2}{-2} \cdot \frac{c^2 d}{1} = \frac{c^{3+2} d^{2+1}}{-2}

We can simplify the exponents by adding the exponents of the same base.

\frac{c^{3+2} d^{2+1}}{-2} = \frac{c^5 d^3}{-2}

Finally, we can simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by their GCD, which is 2.

\frac{c^5 d^3}{-2} = -\frac{c^5 d^3}{2}

Therefore, the quotient $\frac{5 c^3 d^2}{-10 c^{-2} d^{-1}}$ in simplest form is $-\frac{c^5 d^3}{2}$ .