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10.7: Divide Monomials (Part 2)

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Simplify Expressions by Applying Several Properties

We'll now summarize all the properties of exponents so they are all together to refer to as we simplify expressions using several properties. Notice that they are now defined for whole number exponents.

Summary of Exponent Properties

If a, b are real numbers and m, n are whole numbers, then

Product Property aman=am+n
Power Property (am)n=amn
Product to a Power Property (ab)m=ambm
Quotient Property aman=amn,a0,m>n
  aman=1anm,a0,n>m
Zero Exponent Property a0=1,a0
Quotient to a Power Property (ab)m=ambm,b0
Example 10.7.8:

Simplify: (x2)3x5.

Solution

Multiply the exponents in the numerator, using the Power Property. x6x5
Subtract the exponents. x
Exercise 10.7.15:

Simplify: (a4)5a9.

Answer

a11

Exercise 10.7.16:

Simplify: (b5)6b11.

Answer

b19

Example 10.7.9:

Simplify: (m8)(m2)4.

Solution

Multiply the exponents in the numerator, using the Power Property. m8m8
Subtract the exponents. m0
Zero power property 1
Exercise 10.7.17:

Simplify: (k11(k3)3.

Answer

k2

Exercise 10.7.18:

Simplify: (d23(d4)6.

Answer

1d

Example 10.7.10:

Simplify: (x7x3)2.

Solution

Remember parentheses come before exponents, and the bases are the same so we can simplify inside the parentheses. Subtract the exponents. (x73)2
Simplify. (x4)2
Multiply the exponents. x8
Exercise 10.7.19:

Simplify: (f14f8)2.

Answer

f12

Exercise 10.7.20:

Simplify: (b6b11)2.

Answer

1b10

Example 10.7.11:

Simplify: (p2q5)3.

Solution

Here we cannot simplify inside the parentheses first, since the bases are not the same.

Raise the numerator and denominator to the third power using the Quotient to a Power Property, (ab)m=ambm (p2)3(q5)3
Use the Power Property, (am)n = am • n. p6q15
Exercise 10.7.21:

Simplify: (m3n8)5.

Answer

m15n40

Exercise 10.7.22:

Simplify: (t10u7)2.

Answer

t20u14

Example 10.7.12:

Simplify: (2x33y)4.

Solution

Raise the numerator and denominator to the fourth power using the Quotient to a Power Property. (2x3)4(3y)4
Raise each factor to the fourth power, using the Power to a Power Property. 24(x3)434y4
Use the Power Property and simplify. 16x1281y4
Exercise 10.7.23:

Simplify: (5b9c3)2.

Answer

25b281c6

Exercise 10.7.24:

Simplify: (4p47q5)3.

Answer

64p12343q15

Example 10.7.13:

Simplify: (y2)3(y2)4(y5)4.

Solution

Use the Power Property. (y6)(y8)y20
Add the exponents in the numerator, using the Product Property. y14y20
Use the Quotient Property. 1y6
Exercise 10.7.25

Simplify: (y4)4(y3)5(y7)6.

Answer

1y11

Exercise 10.7.26

Simplify: (3x4)2(x3)4(x5)3.

Answer

9x5

Divide Monomials

We have now seen all the properties of exponents. We'll use them to divide monomials. Later, you'll use them to divide polynomials.

Example 10.7.14:

Find the quotient: 56x5 ÷ 7x2.

Solution

Rewrite as a fraction. 56x57x2
Use fraction multiplication to separate the number part from the variable part. 567x5x2
Use the Quotient Property. 8x3
Exercise 10.7.27:

Find the quotient: 63x8 ÷ 9x4.

Answer

7x4

Exercise 10.7.28:

Find the quotient: 96y11 ÷ 6y8.

Answer

16y3

When we divide monomials with more than one variable, we write one fraction for each variable.

Example 10.7.15:

Find the quotient: 42x2y37xy5.

Solution

Use fraction multiplication. 427x2xy3y5
Simplify and use the Quotient Property. 6x1y2
Multiply. 6xy2
Exercise 10.7.29:

Find the quotient: 84x8y37x10y2.

Answer

12yx2

Exercise 10.7.30:

Find the quotient: 72a4b58a9b5.

Answer

9a5

Example 10.7.16:

Find the quotient: 24a5b348ab4.

Solution

Use fraction multiplication. 2448a5ab3b4
Simplify and use the Quotient Property. 12a41b
Multiply. a42b
Exercise 10.7.31:

Find the quotient: 16a7b624ab8.

Answer

2a63b2

Exercise 10.7.32:

Find the quotient: 27p4q745p12q.

Answer

3q65p8

Once you become familiar with the process and have practiced it step by step several times, you may be able to simplify a fraction in one step.

Example 10.7.17:

Find the quotient: 14x7y1221x11y6.

Solution

Simplify and use the Quotient Property. 2y63x4

Be very careful to simplify 1421 by dividing out a common factor, and to simplify the variables by subtracting their exponents.

Exercise 10.7.33:

Find the quotient: 28x5y1449x9y12.

Answer

4y27x4

Exercise 10.7.34:

Find the quotient: 30m5n1148m10n14.

Answer

58m5n3

In all examples so far, there was no work to do in the numerator or denominator before simplifying the fraction. In the next example, we'll first find the product of two monomials in the numerator before we simplify the fraction.

Example 10.7.18:

Find the quotient: (3x3y2)(10x2y3)6x4y5.

Solution

Remember, the fraction bar is a grouping symbol. We will simplify the numerator first.

Simplify the numerator. 30x5y56x4y5
Simplify, using the Quotient Rule. 5x
Exercise 10.7.35:

Find the quotient: (3x4y5)(8x2y5)12x5y8.

Answer

2xy2

Exercise 10.7.36:

Find the quotient: (6a6b9)(8a5b8)12a10b12.

Answer

4ab5

ACCESS ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES

Simplify a Quotient

Zero Exponent

Quotient Rule

Polynomial Division

Polynomial Division 2

Practice Makes Perfect

Simplify Expressions Using the Quotient Property of Exponents

In the following exercises, simplify.

  1. 4842
  2. 31234
  3. x12x3
  4. u9u3
  5. r5r
  6. y4y
  7. y4y20
  8. x10x30
  9. 1031015
  10. r2r8
  11. aa9
  12. 225

Simplify Expressions with Zero Exponents

In the following exercises, simplify.

  1. 50
  2. 100
  3. a0
  4. x0
  5. −70
  6. −40
  7. (a) (10p)0 (b) 10p0
  8. (a) (3a)0 (b) 3a0
  9. (a) (−27x5y)0 (b) −27x5y0
  10. (a) (−92y8z)0 (b) −92y8z0
  11. (a) 150 (b) 151
  12. (a) −60 (b) −61
  13. 2 • x0 + 5 • y0
  14. 8 • m0 − 4 • n0

Simplify Expressions Using the Quotient to a Power Property

In the following exercises, simplify.

  1. (32)5
  2. (45)3
  3. (m6)3
  4. (p2)5
  5. (xy)10
  6. (ab)8
  7. (a3b)2
  8. (2xy)4

Simplify Expressions by Applying Several Properties

In the following exercises, simplify.

  1. (x2)4x5
  2. (y4)3y7
  3. (u3)4u10
  4. (y2)5y6
  5. y8(y5)2
  6. p11(p5)3
  7. r5(r4r
  8. a3a4(a7
  9. (x2x8)3
  10. (uu10)2
  11. (a4a6a3)2
  12. (x3x8x4)3
  13. (y3)5(y4)3
  14. (z6)2(z2)4
  15. (x3)6(x4)7
  16. (x4)8(x5)7
  17. (2r35s)4
  18. (3m24n)3
  19. (3y2y5y15y8)0
  20. (15z4z90.3z2)0
  21. (r2)5(r4)2(r3)7
  22. (p4)2(p3)5(p2)9
  23. (3x4)3(2x3)2(6x5)2
  24. (2y3)4(3y4)2(6y3)2

Divide Monomials

In the following exercises, divide the monomials.

  1. 48b8 ÷ 6b2
  2. 42a14 ÷ 6a2
  3. 36x3 ÷ (−2x9)
  4. 20u8 ÷ (−4u6)
  5. 18x39x2
  6. 36y94y7
  7. 35x742x13
  8. 18x527x9
  9. 18r5s3r3s9
  10. 24p7q6p2q5
  11. 8mn1064mn4
  12. 10a4b50a2b6
  13. 12x4y915x6y3
  14. 48x11y9z336x6y8z5
  15. 64x5y9z748x7y12z6
  16. (10u2v)(4u3v6)5u9v2
  17. (6m2n)(5m4n3)3m10n2
  18. (6a4b3)(4ab5)(12a8b)(a3b)
  19. (4u5v4)(15u8v)(12u3v)(u6v)

Mixed Practice

  1. (a) 24a5 + 2a5 (b) 24a5 − 2a5 (c) 24a5 • 2a5 (d) 24a5 ÷ 2a5
  2. (a) 15n10 + 3n10 (b) 15n10 − 3n10 (c) 15n10 • 3n10 (d) 15n10 ÷ 3n10
  3. (a) p4 • p6 (b) (p4)6
  4. (a) q5 • q3 (b) (q5)3
  5. (a) y3y (b) yy3
  6. (a) z6z5 (b) z5z6
  7. (8x5)(9x) ÷ 6x3
  8. (4y5)(12y7) ÷ 8y2
  9. 27a73a3+54a99a5
  10. 32c114c5+42c96c3
  11. \dfrac{32y^{5}}{8y^{2}} - \dfrac{60y^{10}}{5y^{7}}
  12. \dfrac{48x^{6}}{6x^{4}} - \dfrac{35x^{9}}{7x^{7}}
  13. \dfrac{63r^{6} s^{3}}{9r^{4} s^{2}} - \dfrac{72r^{2} s^{2}}{6s}
  14. \dfrac{56y^{4} z^{5}}{7y^{3} z^{3}} - \dfrac{45y^{2} z^{2}}{5y}

Everyday Math

  1. Memory One megabyte is approximately 106 bytes. One gigabyte is approximately 109 bytes. How many megabytes are in one gigabyte?
  2. Memory One megabyte is approximately 106 bytes. One terabyte is approximately 1012 bytes. How many megabytes are in one terabyte?

Writing Exercises

  1. Vic thinks the quotient \dfrac{x^{20}}{x^{4}} simplifies to x5. What is wrong with his reasoning?
  2. Mai simplifies the quotient \dfrac{y^{3}}{y} by writing \dfrac{y^{3}}{y} = 3. What is wrong with her reasoning?
  3. When Dimple simplified −30 and (−3)0 she got the same answer. Explain how using the Order of Operations correctly gives different answers.
  4. Roxie thinks n0 simplifies to 0. What would you say to convince Roxie she is wrong?

Self Check

(a) After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.

CNX_BMath_Figure_AppB_063.jpg

(b) On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your mastery of this section in light of your responses on the checklist? How can you improve this?

Contributors and Attributions


This page titled 10.7: Divide Monomials (Part 2) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

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