possibly wrong answer in the book concerning exponent simplfying?

**math69** · May 18th 2011, 03:16 PM

$-2x^-3 * 5x^4 / 20x^-6$

in the book the answer is $-1/2x^5$

but i got $-1/2x^7$ and so did my algebra program, the confusion is when your bring the -6 up, in the book it subtracts, can anyone shed some light?
thx

btw the -3 and -6 are neg. exponents, the program didnt bring em up for some reason sorry iam new

**Quacky** · May 18th 2011, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by math69

$-2x^-3 * 5x^4 / 20x^-6$

in the book the answer is $-1/2x^5$

but i got $-1/2x^7$ and so did my algebra program, the confusion is when your bring the -6 up, in the book it subtracts, can anyone shed some light?
thx

btw the -3 and -6 are neg. exponents, the program didnt bring em up for some reason sorry iam new

I agree with your answer. It seems to be a straightforward application of $(x^a)(x^b)=x^{a+b}$

**math69** · May 18th 2011, 06:17 PM

yea and its an example problem too, confusing

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