Edward J.

asked • 07/20/15

x raised to negative 3 divided by x raised to negative 5

x with an -3 exponent that is divided by x with a -5 exponent so what is the answer?

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Sarah V. answered • 07/20/15

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When you divide two numbers with the same base (in this case, the base is x), you subtract the exponents:
 
x-3/x-5 = x-3-(-5) = x2.
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Mark M.

More specifically, the exponent of the numerator minus the exponent of the denominator.
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07/20/15

David W.

Also, if you are just learning about negative exponents, x raised to negative 3 (that is, x-3) is the same as one over x cubed (that is, 1/x3).
 
This means the problem is:  what is  x to the fifth power divided by x cubed   [  x5  / x3 ]  ?  As Mark M. pointed out, you subtract exponents to get x2 (which is just like writing   x*x*x*x*x / x*x*x  and cancelling some x's).
 
This may make you more confident in handling negative exponents, but just to check, what do you think  x-0 equals?
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07/21/15

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