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About Lynn Houston
Expertise
I can answer questions in basic algebra and any grade school math.

Experience
Love math, currently helping my nephew get through Intermediate Algebra.

Education/Credentials
I majored in Math Ed in college (but decided not to teach), so have over 40 credits of math.

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Science > Math for Kids > Basic Math > algebra

Basic Math - algebra


Expert: Lynn Houston - 9/12/2009

Question
Simplify to positive exponents only:

{-11m^-2np^-3}^-2/{44mn^3p^-4}^-2

I'm so confused with this problem.

Answer
When you have a negative exponent, to make it positive you put it on the other side of the line.  That is, if it's in the numerator, you move it to the denominator and vice versa.  So, in your problem, start by switching the denominator and numerator.

{44mn^3p^-4}^2/{-11m^-2np^-3}^2  Now, square both

1936m^2n^6p^-8/121m^-4n^2p^-6  now move the variable with negative exponents to the other side of the line and reduce

16m^6n^4/p^2

Let me know if something doesn't make sense.

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