Dividing with exponents? best answer?

Question

If i have a problem where the exponent is lower in the numerator, how do i do it? For example, (1/x^2) / (1/x^3)?? Would the answer be 1/x or x? im confused on this rule

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

✐Derivation✐

Interchange the numerator and denominator of the second fraction.

[1/x²][x³]

Multiply altogether and simplify.

x³/x²

x

Answer 2

Well (1/x^2) / (1/x^3) is the same as (1/x^2) times (x^3/1) which would equal (x^3/x^2) simplified as x. If you understand everything up to (x^3/x^2) then to explain this part, think of it as

(x)(x)(x) / (x)(x) then cross out two (x)'s from the bottom and top.

Answer 3

Multiply the top and bottom by x^3 to get x^3/x^2. When you divide exponents, you subtract.

So you get x.

Answer 4

hiu