EXPONENTIAL RULES - Problem 4

Rule 2: To divide identical bases, subtract the exponents.

Problem 4: Simplify .

Answer:

Solution: Use Rule 2: can be written as

which in turn can be simplified to .
This answer can also be written or .
Since the answer is just another way of representing the original expression , both expressions are equivalent . You can check your answer with the calculator by letting a, b, and c take on values in the initial problem and take on the same values in the answer. For example, let a = 2, b = 3, and c = 5 in the original problem. The value of that fraction would be

The value of the final expression would be . Since the values are the same, your answer is correct.

If you want to go back to the start of Exponential Rules, click on Exponential Rules .

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