# Math Help - Exponent Laws

1. ## Exponent Laws

I need help with these 2 questions :

2. ## Re: Exponent Laws

What have you tried so far? Where is your problem with these questions? Are wanting someone to just do the problems for you?

If you just need to see some examples, look here: Negative exponents - A complete course in algebra or one of the many other web sites having these kinds of problems. Or ask your teacher.

If you have a problem figuring out the answers, please show what you have tried and be more specific about where your problem is.

3. ## Re: Exponent Laws

Originally Posted by pflo
What have you tried so far? Where is your problem with these questions? Are wanting someone to just do the problems for you?

If you just need to see some examples, look here: Negative exponents - A complete course in algebra or one of the many other web sites having these kinds of problems. Or ask your teacher.

If you have a problem figuring out the answers, please show what you have tried and be more specific about where your problem is.
I flipped the fractions since the exponents were negative. Then I did the exponents and multiplied them. And then subtracted the exponents on the bottom from the top but the answers are totally different from what answer key says.

4. ## Re: Exponent Laws

Well..... that sounds right.

Problem #1:
flip the fractions since the exponents are negative:

$\left(\frac{c^2}{a^{-3} b}\right)^4 \frac{a^4 b^{-3}}{c^5}$

"do" the exponents and multiply them:

$\frac{c^8}{a^{-12}b^4} \frac{a^4 b^{-3}}{c^5}$

subtract the exponents on the bottom from the top:

$a^{4--12} b^{-3-1} c^{8-5}$

$a^{16} b^{-4} c^3$

since the exponent on $b$ is negative, flip it back down into the denominator:

$\frac{a^{16} c^3}{b^4}$

Problem #2:

$\frac{\left(2a^{-1}b^4c^{-3}\right)^{-2}}{\left(4a^2bc^{-4}\right)^2}$

When working with the numbers, think of them in the most factored form you can. This means the $4$ in the denominator should be thought of as $2^2$. Looking at it this way, you will be able to easily combine it with the $2$ in the numerator.

$\frac{2^{-2}a^2b^{-8}c^6}{2^4a^4b^2c^{-8}}$

Note that the $2^2$ in the denominator was squared, so the exponents got multiplied.

$2^{-6} a^{-2} b^{-10} c^{14}$

$\frac{c^{14}}{2^6 a^2 b^{10}}$

I left the $2^6$ in exponential form. Depending on the instructions, you may want to call it $64$ instead.

Let me know if you need more help with these.