<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Simplify: ( 2 x 4 ) 5 ( 4 x 3 ) 2 ( x 3 ) 5 .

2 x

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Divide monomials

You have now been introduced to all the properties of exponents and used them to simplify expressions. Next, you’ll see how to use these properties to divide monomials. Later, you’ll use them to divide polynomials.

Find the quotient: 56 x 7 ÷ 8 x 3 .

Solution

56 x 7 ÷ 8 x 3 Rewrite as a fraction. 56 x 7 8 x 3 Use fraction multiplication. 56 8 x 7 x 3 Simplify and use the Quotient Property. 7 x 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 42 y 9 ÷ 6 y 3 .

7 y 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 48 z 8 ÷ 8 z 2 .

6 z 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 45 a 2 b 3 −5 a b 5 .

Solution

When we divide monomials with more than one variable, we write one fraction for each variable.

45 a 2 b 3 −5 a b 5 Use fraction multiplication. 45 −5 · a 2 a · b 3 b 5 Simplify and use the Quotient Property. −9 · a · 1 b 2 Multiply. 9 a b 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: −72 a 7 b 3 8 a 12 b 4 .

9 a 5 b

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: −63 c 8 d 3 7 c 12 d 2 .

−9 d c 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 24 a 5 b 3 48 a b 4 .

Solution

24 a 5 b 3 48 a b 4 Use fraction multiplication. 24 48 · a 5 a · b 3 b 4 Simplify and use the Quotient Property. 1 2 · a 4 · 1 b Multiply. a 4 2 b

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 16 a 7 b 6 24 a b 8 .

2 a 6 3 b 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 27 p 4 q 7 −45 p 12 q .

3 q 6 5 p 8

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Once you become familiar with the process and have practiced it step by step several times, you may be able to simplify a fraction in one step.

Find the quotient: 14 x 7 y 12 21 x 11 y 6 .

Solution

Be very careful to simplify 14 21 by dividing out a common factor, and to simplify the variables by subtracting their exponents.

14 x 7 y 12 21 x 11 y 6 Simplify and use the Quotient Property. 2 y 6 3 x 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 28 x 5 y 14 49 x 9 y 12 .

4 y 2 7 x 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: 30 m 5 n 11 48 m 10 n 14 .

5 8 m 5 n 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

In all examples so far, there was no work to do in the numerator or denominator before simplifying the fraction. In the next example, we’ll first find the product of two monomials in the numerator before we simplify the fraction. This follows the order of operations. Remember, a fraction bar is a grouping symbol.

Find the quotient: ( 6 x 2 y 3 ) ( 5 x 3 y 2 ) ( 3 x 4 y 5 ) .

Solution

( 6 x 2 y 3 ) ( 5 x 3 y 2 ) ( 3 x 4 y 5 ) Simplify the numerator. 30 x 5 y 5 3 x 4 y 5 Simplify. 10 x

Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: ( 6 a 4 b 5 ) ( 4 a 2 b 5 ) 12 a 5 b 8 .

2 a b 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Find the quotient: ( −12 x 6 y 9 ) ( −4 x 5 y 8 ) −12 x 10 y 12 .

−4 x y 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with dividing monomials:

Key concepts

  • Quotient Property for Exponents:
    • If a is a real number, a 0 , and m , n are whole numbers, then:
      a m a n = a m n , m > n and a m a n = 1 a m n , n > m
  • Zero Exponent
    • If a is a non-zero number, then a 0 = 1 .

  • Quotient to a Power Property for Exponents :
    • If a and b are real numbers, b 0 , and m is a counting number, then:
      ( a b ) m = a m b m
    • To raise a fraction to a power, raise the numerator and denominator to that power.

  • Summary of Exponent Properties
    • If a , b are real numbers and m , n are whole numbers, then
      Product Property a m · a n = a m + n Power Property ( a m ) n = a m · n Product to a Power ( a b ) m = a m b m Quotient Property a m b m = a m n , a 0 , m > n a m a n = 1 a n m , a 0 , n > m Zero Exponent Definition a o = 1 , a 0 Quotient to a Power Property ( a b ) m = a m b m , b 0

Practice makes perfect

Simplify Expressions Using the Quotient Property for Exponents

In the following exercises, simplify.

x 18 x 3 5 12 5 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

y 20 y 10 7 16 7 2

y 10 7 14

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

p 21 p 7 4 16 4 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

u 24 u 3 9 15 9 5

u 21 9 10

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

q 18 q 36 10 2 10 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

t 10 t 40 8 3 8 5

1 t 30 1 64

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

x x 7 10 10 3

1 x 6 1 100

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Simplify Expressions with Zero Exponents

In the following exercises, simplify.


13 0
k 0

1 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


27 0
( 27 0 )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


15 0
( 15 0 )

−1 −1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


( 25 x ) 0
25 x 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


( 6 y ) 0
6 y 0

1 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


( 12 x ) 0
( −56 p 4 q 3 ) 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


7 y 0 ( 17 y ) 0
( −93 c 7 d 15 ) 0

7 1

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


12 n 0 18 m 0
( 12 n ) 0 ( 18 m ) 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


15 r 0 22 s 0
( 15 r ) 0 ( 22 s ) 0

−7 0

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Simplify Expressions Using the Quotient to a Power Property

In the following exercises, simplify.

( 3 4 ) 3 ( p 2 ) 5 ( x y ) 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 2 5 ) 2 ( x 3 ) 4 ( a b ) 5

4 25 x 4 81 a 5 b 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( a 3 b ) 4 ( 5 4 m ) 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( x 2 y ) 3 ( 10 3 q ) 4

x 3 8 y 3 10,000 81 q 4

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Simplify Expressions by Applying Several Properties

In the following exercises, simplify.

( y 4 z 10 ) 5

y 20 z 50

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 3 m 5 5 n ) 3

27 m 15 125 n 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 5 u 7 2 v 3 ) 4

625 u 28 16 v 12

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( t 2 ) 5 ( t 4 ) 2 ( t 3 ) 7

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( q 3 ) 6 ( q 2 ) 3 ( q 4 ) 8

1 q 8

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −2 p 2 ) 4 ( 3 p 4 ) 2 ( −6 p 3 ) 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −2 k 3 ) 2 ( 6 k 2 ) 4 ( 9 k 4 ) 2

64 k 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −4 m 3 ) 2 ( 5 m 4 ) 3 ( −10 m 6 ) 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −10 n 2 ) 3 ( 4 n 5 ) 2 ( 2 n 8 ) 2

−4,000

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Divide Monomials

In the following exercises, divide the monomials.

−72 u 12 ÷ 1 2 u 4

−6 u 8

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

45 a 6 b 8 −15 a 10 b 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

54 x 9 y 3 −18 x 6 y 15

3 x 3 y 12

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

20 m 8 n 4 30 m 5 n 9

−2 m 3 3 n 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

18 a 4 b 8 −27 a 9 b 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

45 x 5 y 9 −60 x 8 y 6

−3 y 3 4 x 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

64 q 11 r 9 s 3 48 q 6 r 8 s 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

65 a 10 b 8 c 5 42 a 7 b 6 c 8

65 a 3 b 2 42 c 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 10 m 5 n 4 ) ( 5 m 3 n 6 ) 25 m 7 n 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( −18 p 4 q 7 ) ( −6 p 3 q 8 ) −36 p 12 q 10

−3 q 5 p 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 6 a 4 b 3 ) ( 4 a b 5 ) ( 12 a 2 b ) ( a 3 b )

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 4 u 2 v 5 ) ( 15 u 3 v ) ( 12 u 3 v ) ( u 4 v )

5 v 4 u 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Mixed Practice


24 a 5 + 2 a 5
24 a 5 2 a 5
24 a 5 · 2 a 5
24 a 5 ÷ 2 a 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


15 n 10 + 3 n 10
15 n 10 3 n 10
15 n 10 · 3 n 10
15 n 10 ÷ 3 n 10

18 n 10
12 n 10
45 n 20
5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


p 4 · p 6
( p 4 ) 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


q 5 · q 3
( q 5 ) 3

q 8
q 15

Got questions? Get instant answers now!


z 6 z 5
z 5 z 6

z 1 z

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 8 x 5 ) ( 9 x ) ÷ 6 x 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( 4 y ) ( 12 y 7 ) ÷ 8 y 2

6 y 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

27 a 7 3 a 3 + 54 a 9 9 a 5

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

32 c 11 4 c 5 + 42 c 9 6 c 3

15 c 6

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

32 y 5 8 y 2 60 y 10 5 y 7

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

48 x 6 6 x 4 35 x 9 7 x 7

3 x 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

63 r 6 s 3 9 r 4 s 2 72 r 2 s 2 6 s

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

56 y 4 z 5 7 y 3 z 3 45 y 2 z 2 5 y

y z 2

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Everyday math

Memory One megabyte is approximately 10 6 bytes. One gigabyte is approximately 10 9 bytes. How many megabytes are in one gigabyte?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Memory One gigabyte is approximately 10 9 bytes. One terabyte is approximately 10 12 bytes. How many gigabytes are in one terabyte?

10 3

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Writing exercises

Jennifer thinks the quotient a 24 a 6 simplifies to a 4 . What is wrong with her reasoning?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Maurice simplifies the quotient d 7 d by writing d 7 d = 7 . What is wrong with his reasoning?

Answers will vary.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

When Drake simplified 3 0 and ( −3 ) 0 he got the same answer. Explain how using the Order of Operations correctly gives different answers.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Robert thinks x 0 simplifies to 0. What would you say to convince Robert he is wrong?

Answers will vary.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Self check

After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.

This is a table that has six rows and four columns. In the first row, which is a header row, the cells read from left to right “I can…,” “Confidently,” “With some help,” and “No-I don’t get it!” The first column below “I can…” reads “simplify expressions using the Quotient Property for Exponents,” “simplify expressions with zero exponents,” “simplify expressions using the Quotient to a Power Property,” “simplify expressions by applying several properties,” and “divide monomials.” The rest of the cells are blank.

On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your mastery of this section in light of your responses on the checklist? How can you improve this?

Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
Aislinn Reply
cm
tijani
what is titration
John Reply
what is physics
Siyaka Reply
A mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance
Jude Reply
Can you compute that for me. Ty
Jude
what is the dimension formula of energy?
David Reply
what is viscosity?
David
what is inorganic
emma Reply
what is chemistry
Youesf Reply
what is inorganic
emma
Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
Adjei
please, I'm a physics student and I need help in physics
Adjanou
chemistry could also be understood like the sexual attraction/repulsion of the male and female elements. the reaction varies depending on the energy differences of each given gender. + masculine -female.
Pedro
A ball is thrown straight up.it passes a 2.0m high window 7.50 m off the ground on it path up and takes 1.30 s to go past the window.what was the ball initial velocity
Krampah Reply
2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
Sahid Reply
you have been hired as an espert witness in a court case involving an automobile accident. the accident involved car A of mass 1500kg which crashed into stationary car B of mass 1100kg. the driver of car A applied his brakes 15 m before he skidded and crashed into car B. after the collision, car A s
Samuel Reply
can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
Joseph Reply
Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
"Generation of electrical energy from sound energy | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore" ***ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7150687?reload=true
Ryan
what's motion
Maurice Reply
what are the types of wave
Maurice
answer
Magreth
progressive wave
Magreth
hello friend how are you
Muhammad Reply
fine, how about you?
Mohammed
hi
Mujahid
A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
yasuo Reply
Who can show me the full solution in this problem?
Reofrir Reply
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. Jan 18, 2017 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12116/1.2
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Elementary algebra' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask