How do you simplify (m^-3)(-2m^-5)(-m^6)?

1 Answer
Jun 3, 2015

First start by moving the ( m^-3) and (m^-5) to the denominator in order to make the exponents positive. By doing this, you should get (((-m^6)(-2))/((m^3)(m^5))).

Now you can multiply the two terms in the numerator. You do so in two steps:
1. multiply the coefficients (-1)(-2) and
2. keep the m^6
This should give you the term -2m^6. The whole fraction should look like ((2m^6)/((m^3)(m^5))).

Now you can multiply the two terms in the denominator. You do so in three steps:
1. multiply the coefficients (1)(1),
2. keep the base (m), and
3. add the exponents 3+5.
This is based off the rule x^a * x^b = x^(a+b). This should give you the term m^8. The whole fraction should look like ((2m^6)/(m^8)).

Now you can divide the two terms. You do so in three steps:
1. divide the coefficients 2//1,
2. keep the base (m), and
3. subtract the exponents 6-8.
This is based off of the rule x^a // x^b = x^(a-b). This should give you the term m^-2.

Once again, to make the exponent positive, you have to move it to the denominator. this should give you (2/(m^2)).

Hope this helped!! :)