4y^ - 8y^4 / 2y^3

Question

 

Divide

4y^ - 8y^4 / 2y^3

Answer 1

a^m • aⁿ = a^{m + n}  
a^m ÷ aⁿ = a^{m - n}  
              1
a ^{- m}  =  ——  
              a^m 
~~~~~~~~~~~ 
  4 y ^-8 y⁴           4
 —————  =  ——   y ^{- 8 + 4 - 3}   
     2 y³             2 
                   2
= 2y ^{- 7}  =  ——
                   y⁷

Answer 2

to make this easier, lets rewrite the equation:

4/2(y^(-8y^4))/(y^3) = 2(y^(-8y^4))/(y^3)

when you divide by powers with the same base, (in this example, base "y") you subtract.

so,

2(y^(-8y^4))/(y^3) = 2(y^((-8y^4)-3))

Hope this helps! :)