Question #a6e54

1 Answer
Jan 27, 2017

Expression #color(red)(D)# has the greatest value for #z = 12#

Explanation:

First, we need to simplify each of the expression using rules for exponents and then evaluate with #z = 12#:

#color(red)(A)#) Use these rules for exponents:
#x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) +color(blue)(b))#
#x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)#

#z^-6z^4 = z^(-6+4) = z^-2 = 1/z^(- -2) = 1/z^2#

#1/(12)^2 = 1/144 = 0.00694#

#color(red)(B)#) Use these rules for exponents:
#x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) +color(blue)(b))#
#x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)#
#(x^color(red)(a))^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) xx color(blue)(b))#

#(z^-2z^5)^-2 = (z^(-2+5))^-2 = (z^3)^-2 = z^(3xx-2) = z^-6 = 1/z^6#

#1/(12)^6 = 1/2985984 = 3.35 x 10^-7 = 0.000000335#

#color(red)(C)#) Use these rules for exponents:
#(x^color(red)(a))^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) xx color(blue)(b))#

#(z^3)^5 = z^(3xx5) = z^15#

#12^15 = 1.54 x 10^16 = 15,400,000,000,000,000#

#color(red)(D)#) Use these rules for exponents:
#x^color(red)(a) xx x^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) +color(blue)(b))#
#(x^color(red)(a))^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) xx color(blue)(b))#

#-(z^2z^-4)^-3 = -(z^(2-4))^-3 = -(z^-2)^-3 = -z^(-2xx-3) = -z^6#

#-(12)^6 = -2,985,984#