How do you simplify #15^4/15^6#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-05-25T20:03:42

#1/225#

Consider the example of #a^2#, this is #a^1xxa^1=a^2=a^(1+1)#

So #a^5#, if so chosen, could be written as #a^(2+3)=a^2xxa^3#

#color(blue)("Back to your question")#

#color(brown)("Method 1")#

Write #15^4" as "15^4 xx1#

Write #15^6" as "15^(4+2) = 15^4xx15^2#

So #15^4/15^6=(15^4xx1)/(15^4xx15^2)#

This is the same as #15^4/15^4xx1/15^2#

But #15^4/15^4=1# giving

#color(brown)(15^4/15^6=1/15^2 = 1/225)#
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#color(brown)("Method 2")#

Consider the example:# 1/a^2 = a^(-2)#

Write #15^4/15^6" as "15^4xx15^(-6)#

#color(brown)(=15^(4-6)=15^(-2) = 1/15^2 =1/225)#