Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Negative Exponents
Negative exponents indicate the reciprocal of the base raised to the absolute value of the exponent. For example, a⁻⁴ can be rewritten as 1/a⁴. This concept is essential for transforming expressions with negative exponents into forms that only contain positive exponents.
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Simplifying Expressions
Simplifying expressions involves reducing them to their simplest form by combining like terms and applying the laws of exponents. This includes operations such as multiplying and dividing bases with exponents, which can lead to further simplification of the expression.
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Simplifying Algebraic Expressions
Laws of Exponents
The laws of exponents are rules that govern how to manipulate expressions involving exponents. Key laws include the product of powers (a^m * a^n = a^(m+n)), the quotient of powers (a^m / a^n = a^(m-n)), and the power of a power ( (a^m)^n = a^(m*n)). Understanding these laws is crucial for rewriting and simplifying expressions correctly.
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