EXPONENTIAL RULES

Rule 3:: When there are two or more exponents to the same base, multiply them.

Example 10:

Simplify the following expression tex2html_wrap_inline39

Answer:

Solution:

Simplify the numerator:

Simplify the denominator: .

The initial fraction can now re written as tex2html_wrap_inline41 .

Since tex2html_wrap_inline39 is equivalent to tex2html_wrap_inline41 , they should be identical for the same values of a and b. Let's check the answer by letting a and b take on values in both the initial fraction and the closing fraction. Let's let a = 2 and b = 3. The value of the initial fraction and the final fraction , using a = 2 and b = 3, should be the same.

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