Elementary Algebra

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285194055
ISBN 13: 978-1-28519-405-9

Chapter 5 - Exponents and Polynomials - 5.6 - Integral Exponents and Scientific Notation - Problem Set 5.6 - Page 223: 53

Answer

$4$

Work Step by Step

Using the laws of exponents, the given expression, $ \dfrac{-52y^{-2}}{-13y^{-2}} ,$ is equivalent to \begin{array}{l}\require{cancel} (-52\div(-13))y^{-2-(-2)} \\\\= 4y^{-2+2} \\\\= 4y^{0} \\\\= 4(1) \\\\= 4 .\end{array} For more complicated problems, it is helpful to remember that you can flip the location of numbers with negative exponents. In other words, you can move numbers with a negative exponent that are in the numerator to the denominator, and you can move numbers with a negative exponent in the denominator to the numerator.
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