Thread: Negative Exponents

(x^-1 y^2)^-3 (x^2 y^-4)^-3
(x^3 y^-6)(x^-6 y^12)
x^-3 y^6
y^6/x^3


Is that right?

yup

(x^2 y^-1/xy)^-4
(xy/x^2 y^-1)^4


Why is it that when you flip fractions like that, nothing happens to the negative exponents?

Originally Posted by Mad

(x^2 y^-1/xy)^-4
(xy/x^2 y^-1)^4


Why is it that when you flip fractions like that, nothing happens to the negative exponents?

What do you mean that nothing happens to the negative exponents?


In your case:




I'm not sure why you are saying it hasn't changed?

-Dan

Edit:
Oh wait! You are talking about the inside the expression, aren't you?




The - in the -4 exponent flips the fraction in the expression over. The numerator of the expression contains a fraction, so this doesn't change.

This is why I think it is better to apply the multiplication rule of exponents first, then simplify.

-Dan

Thanks.


One more question.

(x^2y^-1/xy)^-4
(xy/x^2y^-1)^4

My professor would have simplified what's inside the parantheses first. She would have done 1 - 2 for the x and got -1. She would have taken 1 - (-1) for y and gotten 2. I think.

I think this is what I used to do in high school:

x : 2 - 1 = 1; the x on the bottom is bigger so that's where the x remains
y : 1 - 1 = 0; no y

Right or wrong?


I kind of think I'm wrong but I'm confused...

Originally Posted by Mad

Thanks.


One more question.

(x^2y^-1/xy)^-4
(xy/x^2y^-1)^4

My professor would have simplified what's inside the parantheses first. She would have done 1 - 2 for the x and got -1. She would have taken 1 - (-1) for y and gotten 2. I think.

I think this is what I used to do in high school:

x : 2 - 1 = 1; the x on the bottom is bigger so that's where the x remains
y : 1 - 1 = 0; no y

Right or wrong?


I kind of think I'm wrong but I'm confused...

Compare the marked calcualtions!

Yeah, I noticed that. I think I know where I went wrong -- I remembered my high school teacher talking about subtracting the two and putting the answer where the biggest number had been before but forgot about signs and such.

So you subtract the bottom number from the top? And then what? The answer goes on the top? But if it's a negative, you put it on the bottom?

If so, I'll just have to throw out that whole "Put the answer where the biggest number was before." thing.


EDIT: While I'm at it...

y^8/x^4? Is that right?

Originally Posted by Mad

...

So you subtract the bottom number from the top? And then what? The answer goes on the top? But if it's a negative, you put it on the bottom?

If so, I'll just have to throw out that whole "Put the answer where the biggest number was before." thing.

EDIT: While I'm at it...
y^8/x^4? Is that right?

I assume that you know the basic properties of powers:







Apply these rules to your question and transform the complete term into a product:

= =

So your answer is correct