how do I simplify?

Question

-3xy⁴
———
15x³y³

Thanks so much for all the answers! The only problem is that they're all so different so I'm not sure what to think.

Answer 1

-1(x^-2)y/ 5

First divide the numbers -3 and 15.
Remember you can move varibles up and down the division symbol is you change the sign of the exponent. For example x/1= 1/ x^-1

Therefore just move the variables and do the subtraction =]

Answer 2

To simplify, all you have to do is cancel common terms. Regarding the actual numbers, all you have to do is simplify them as you would the fraction.

First, let's start with the numbers. What does -3/15 reduce to? The answer to that is -1/5, so you'd have a (-1) on top and a 5 on the bottom while cancelling out the -3 and 15.

Now, the variables. Every x that appears on the top can cancel out an x that appears on the bottom. Similarly, every x that appears on the bottom can cancel out an x that appears on the top. In this case, we have one x on the top, so we cancel that one out and reduce the power of the x on the bottom by 1. We also cancel out the y^3 and reduce the power of y on the top by 3.

(-1)y^3
--------
5x^2

or

-y^3
-----
5x^2

Answer 3

the answer is...

-1x(3)
_____

3y

the (3) is suppossed to be an exponent of 3 but im not sure how to do that. I havent done this math in a while but im almost sure thats what the answer is.

Answer 4

when dividing.......subtract exponents.....

-3/15 -1/5

x^1 / x^3 = x^-2 = 1/x^2

y^4/ y^3 = y^1


thus.........-y/5x^2

Answer 5

I haven't taken math in 8 years, sorry. I would guess it would be:

-1y
___
3x2

...but I could be wrong.

Answer 6

The answer is definitely
-1xˉ²y
______
5


or you can put it as
-1y
___
5x²

Answer 7

-1y
-----
5x^2

divide integers, subtract exponents.

Answer 8

like this : -1y/x2.....dont know how to type exponents....thats x squared.

Answer 9

-1y/5x^2

Answer 10

-y/5xx