1. ## Help please! Simplify algebraic expressions

here it is, thanks in adance, need to simplify this

(3t^-5)^3 divided by 3t^2 and the ^ means to the power of. Thanks

2. Originally Posted by MathMack
here it is, thanks in adance, need to simplify this

(3t^-5)^3 divided by 3t^2 and the ^ means to the power of. Thanks
Hi Mathmack

$\frac{(3t^{-5})^3}{3t^2}$

$=\frac{3^3 \times t^{-5 \times 3}}{3t^2}$

$=\frac{27t^{-15}}{3t^2}$

$=\frac{27}{3t^2} \times \frac{1}{t^{15}}$

$=\frac{9}{t^{17}}$

3. I got everything right but until the multiply step, how or why did you do that. Thanks for your help!

4. Because $t^{-15}=\frac{1}{t^{15}}$

5. i'm sorry i'm just lost, i know you get 27/3t^2 times 1/t^15 not sure how to get the answer you got with that. thanks again

6. Originally Posted by MathMack
i'm sorry i'm just lost, i know you get 27/3t^2 times 1/t^15 not sure how to get the answer you got with that. thanks again
$\frac{27}{3t^2} \times \frac{1}{t^{15}}$

$=\frac{27}{3t^{2+15}}$ (multiplying powers of t)

$=\frac{27}{3t^{17}}$

$=\frac{9}{t^{17}}$ (canceling 3's)