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a to the power of minus 2 / a squared b squared

I did; 1 / a squared a squared b squared  (moved the "a to the power of minus 2" to the bottom to convert it to "a squared")

1 / 2a to the power of 4 b squared

Been told I'm wrong?

 Sep 27, 2014

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+23252 
+5

a^-2 = 1 / a²

( 1 / a² ) / ( a² b² )

    = ( 1 / a² )  · ( 1 / ( a² b² ) )

    = (1  ·  1  ) / ( a² · a² b² )

    = 1 / (a^4 b²)

In other words, with an "a to the power of minus 2" move the factor to the denominator and make the exponent positive two.

Then combine that with what is already in the denominator (another a² and a b²) to end with an a^4 b² in the denominator.

 Sep 27, 2014
 #1
avatar+23252 
+5
Best Answer

a^-2 = 1 / a²

( 1 / a² ) / ( a² b² )

    = ( 1 / a² )  · ( 1 / ( a² b² ) )

    = (1  ·  1  ) / ( a² · a² b² )

    = 1 / (a^4 b²)

In other words, with an "a to the power of minus 2" move the factor to the denominator and make the exponent positive two.

Then combine that with what is already in the denominator (another a² and a b²) to end with an a^4 b² in the denominator.

geno3141 Sep 27, 2014
 #2
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Thanks for your reply, was begining to think the way I had written it in words rather than numbers was scaring people off. Since found out how to write with superscript - Format then superscript to turn on or off. Was just about to repost correctly written but you beat me to it.

I'm still a bit confused.

When I got to 1/a2a2bas you did, I combined a2a2b2 thinking this basically meant a2*a2*b2 which I worked out to 2a4b2.

I'm not suggesting you are wrong as you have the same answer as my book says but I can't understand how a2*a2 is a4, not 2a4 as I have put.

Sorry to question it but I can't understand it as it is, am I looking at it incorrectly?

 Sep 27, 2014
 #3
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0

Realised I was doing a strange combination of adding and multiplying at the same time.

It makes sense now.

Thanks

 Sep 27, 2014

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