Simplify. Write your answer with positive exponents only. (b^2)^-6/b^-4?

Question

Simplify. Write your answer with positive exponents only. Show the work so I can learn how to it

(b^2)^-6/b^-4

Answer 1

Start with the (b^2)^-6 part. You multiply exponents when you raise to an exponent something that already has an exponent. So that much becomes b^-12.

So now the whole thing looks like b^-12 / b^-4. To bring b^-4 to the numerator, change the sign on the exponent.

So now it's (b^-12) * b^4. To combine these, you add the exponents - that yields b^-8.

Final answer with positive exponents? Send it to the denominator and change the exponent's sign: 1 / b^8

Answer 2

(b^2)^ -6 / b^-4

= b^-4/b^-4

= 1

Note: In Indices, when there are two powers given like in your examples what v need to do is add the two indices (2 - 6) = - 4
here since we have - sign and 6 is larger than 2, we get it as - 4.

Answer 3

This problem requires more parentheses before we can work on it.