84x^5/-7x^5

Question

 How do I fully simplify this step by step

84x^5/-7x^5

Answer 1

Hi Pat,

 

You have a numerator of 84 x-to-the-fifths and a denominator of -7 x-to-the-fifths.

The x^5 cancel, leaving 84/(-7).

84 divided by -7 is -12.

 

 

Answer 2

You can simplify it by considering the fraction as having coefficients (#'s) and variables that can each be simplified separately:

 

84/-7   =  -12

 

x^5/x^5     =   1

 

 

So your answer is the multiplication of those two aspects:

 

 

(-12) x (1) =  -12