Expert: Sherman D. - 6/23/2004

Question
How do you multiply the following:

(6x^2y^-4) (-4x^-3y^-4)

6x squared y to the negative 4th times negative 4x to the negative 3 y to the negative 4th

this is how I solved it so far:

-24x^-1y^-8
-24(-x)y^-8
24xy^-8

Please tell me if I am on the right track or if I have the right answer.  

Answer
close, but not quite

-24x^-1y^-8 or -24 * x^-1 * y^-8 was correct for starters, but to keep going you would do this

-24 * x^-1 * y^-8

Now do not confuse x^-1 with -x^1, which is what you got

x^-1 = (1/x^1) or (1/x)
and
y^-8 = 1/(x^8)

so this would give you

-24 * (1/x) * (1/(y^8))

or you could put this as

-24/(xy^8)

thats -24/(x * y^8)

don't believe just plug in some values for x and y, in your problem, my answer and your answer, and see which of our answers match the problem's solution.

For more info, go to
http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~jos/mdft/Negative_Exponents.html