Simplify Complex Expression: [a⁴/a³ × a⁸/a⁷] ÷ a¹⁰/a⁸

Question

Simplify the following:

[a4a3×a8a7]:a10a8 \lbrack\frac{a^4}{a^3}\times\frac{a^8}{a^7}\rbrack:\frac{a^{10}}{a^8}

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Simplify the following problem
00:03 When dividing powers with equal bases
00:06 The power of the result equals the difference of the exponents
00:11 We'll apply this formula to our exercise, and subtract the exponents
00:36 When multiplying powers with equal bases
00:41 The power of the result equals the sum of the exponents
00:44 We'll apply this formula to our exercise, and add the exponents together
00:55 Any number divided by itself always equals 1
01:00 This is the solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to simplify the given expression using the rules of exponents:

First, simplify inside the brackets:
a4a3×a8a7=a43×a87=a1×a1=a1+1=a2 \frac{a^4}{a^3} \times \frac{a^8}{a^7} = a^{4-3} \times a^{8-7} = a^1 \times a^1 = a^{1+1} = a^2

Now, handle the entire expression, dividing it by a10a8\frac{a^{10}}{a^8}:
a2a10a8=a2×a8a10=a2×a810=a2×a2=a2+(2)=a0 \frac{a^2}{\frac{a^{10}}{a^8}} = a^2 \times \frac{a^8}{a^{10}} = a^2 \times a^{8-10} = a^2 \times a^{-2} = a^{2 + (-2)} = a^0

Recall that any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is 1, hence: a0=1 a^0 = 1

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 1 1 .

Answer

1 1