Expert: Paul Klarreich - 1/26/2006

Question
I cant figure these out any help would be awsome.    Write the following using eponents. 1)1/4y.y.z.z.z     2) 1/x.1/x.m.m.m.m                                         Find each product or quotient. 1) -5/8(16)(3)(-4)   2) -6 2/9        3) (0.35)(0.6)(-5)(-0.8)           Simplify the following  1) -19p+13p+p                2) -5b-11b+18b-b    3) 6(3y-y)+3(y+2y)  4) 30w-18/-6 Thank you so much I just can not figure these out :(
Thanks :D

Answer
Hi, Ron,

Welcome to AllX.  This is obviously your first time here, so a few requests:

1. If you have several questions, please start each question on a separate line.
2. Be VERY careful in parenthesizing.  6 - 2x/2  is not the same as (6-2x)/2
3. View everything I send you using a fixed font.  That is necessary for understanding anything with a fraction.
4. If you have to write fractions, I recommend that you use a format like this, entered using that fixed font, such as Courier.

    6 - 2x
    ------
      2
5. Be sure to tell me EXACTLY what math you are studying and what you have learned up to now.  This 'context' makes a big difference.

Write the following using exponents.
1)1/4y.y.z.z.z

If this is meant to be:
y y z z z
-----------
    4
Then it is  

y y z z z   y^2 z^3
---------- = ------- =   2^(-2)y^2 z^3
    4         2^2

Again, note the use of parentheses.  ALSO, I am using negative exponents here.  If you haven't learned them, then the problem ends at the next to last step.


2) 1/x.1/x.m.m.m.m                               
m m m m   m^3
------- = --- = m^3 x^(-2)
 x x     x^2


Find each product or quotient.
1) -5/8(16)(3)(-4)
-5(16)(3)(-4)
------------- =  -5(2)(3)(-4) = + 120
     8

2) -6 2/9      
-6  2   -2(3)(2)   -4
-- -- = -------- = ---
1  9    3(3)       3

3) (0.35)(0.6)(-5)(-0.8)

Suggestion:  There are an even number (two) of factors, so the product will be positive.  [Factors are numbers being multiplied or divided.]

(0.35)(0.6)(-5)(-0.8) = 0.21(4) = 0.84      

Simplify the following
1) -19p+13p+p

Combining like terms:  -19p + 14p = -5p

2) -5b-11b+18b-b = -17b + 18b = +1b = b  (same stuff)
3) 6(3y-y)+3(y+2y)
Combine and then remove parentheses.
6(2y) + 3(3y) = 12y + 9y = 21y


4) 30w-18/-6
Does this mean:
30w - 18   30w   -18
-------- = --- + --- = - 5w + 4
  -6      -6    -6
(distributive law application.)


Thank you so much I just can not figure these out :(
Thanks :D