Simplifying an Expression With Powers

LeahB

New member
Joined
Oct 10, 2010
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1
I'm having trouble with this problem.
c^5 (c^3)^-2

So far I have added the 3 and the negative 2 exponents, but I keep getting the wrong answer.

These are my steps:
1. c^5(c^3)^-2
2. c^5(c^-1)
3. c^4

I get c^4 but my teacher says the answer is c^-1
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
 
LeahB said:
I'm having trouble with this problem.
c^5 (c^3)^-2

So far I have added the 3 and the negative 2 exponents, but I keep getting the wrong answer.

These are my steps:
1. c^5(c^3)^-2
2. c^5(c^-1)
3. c^4

I get c^4 but my teacher says the answer is c^-1
PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

You said that (c[sup:1sgx4d4j]3[/sup:1sgx4d4j])[sup:1sgx4d4j]-2[/sup:1sgx4d4j] =c[sup:1sgx4d4j]-1[/sup:1sgx4d4j].
I'm not sure how you got -1 by adding 3 and -2???. The rule you should be following for that first step is (x[sup:1sgx4d4j]a[/sup:1sgx4d4j])[sup:1sgx4d4j]b[/sup:1sgx4d4j]=x[sup:1sgx4d4j]ab[/sup:1sgx4d4j].
 
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