# Negative Exponents: simplify expression to get pos. exp.

#### jramirez23

##### New member
I need help with this problem where I need to rewrite the exponents so they could be positive. I'm new on these forums so I don't know the format. I'll try my best to describe it.

Negative 12x to the negative fifth power
OVER
4x to the negative fifth power

This big fraction is inside parenthesis and it is to the negative fourth power.

I don't know but I think I need to "distribute" the exponent to the exponents inside of the parenthesis by multiplying them and then solving the problem.

#### Loren

##### Senior Member
Re: Negative Exponents Question

The way you describe it is as follows:
$$\displaystyle (\frac{-12x^{-5}}{4x^{-5}})^{-4}$$

Possibly there is a typo? If not, you can do some cancellation of the x to the negative 5, and some division
(-12÷4=?). you then have an integer with an exponent of -4. The rule of exponents that allows you to rewrite the expression with a positive exponent is $$\displaystyle a^{-m}=\frac{1}{a^{m}}$$.