If you write the following expression

Question

(x^-3 x^2/ x^3 x^-2)^2

 

as a single power of x then the exponent is___

Answer 1

(x^-3 x²/ x³ x^-2)²

 

Get rid of the negative exponents within the parentheses:

 

= (x²x²/x³x³)²

 

= (x⁴/x⁶)²

 

= (x^-2)²

 

= x^-4

 

The exponent is -4