Help simplifying (2a^-4b^2)^3/4a^-2b^-1?

Question

Yo, i need help with this.. i am completely lost!

(2a^-4b^2)^3/4a^-2b^-1

thanks!

I have no idea how to simplify this because of the division and the negative powers

Answer 1

(2a^-4b^2)^3/4a^-2b^-1
8a^-12b^6/4a^-2b^-1
2a^-10b^7

Answer 2

2b - 2a ÷ a² - b² = -2(a - b) / [(a - b)(a + b)] = -2 / (a + b) note: I factored 2b - 2a as -2(a - b) because i wanted (a - b) contained in the numerator to cancel with the (a - b) contained in the denominator. I used the identity a² - b² = (a - b)(a + b) [that's the version of two squares] to component the denominator.