Simplify the following expression. Write your answer using only positive exponents.

[tex]\[ \left(\frac{a^2 b^{-5} c^3}{a^{-2} c^{-4}}\right)^4 \][/tex]



Answer :

Sure! Let's go through the process of simplifying the given expression step by step.

We start with the expression:

[tex]\[ \left(\frac{a^2 b^{-5} c^3}{a^{-2} c^{-4}}\right)^4 \][/tex]

First, we simplify the fraction inside the parentheses. We do this by combining the exponents for each variable. Using the properties of exponents, we have:

[tex]\[ \frac{a^2 b^{-5} c^3}{a^{-2} c^{-4}} = a^{2 - (-2)} \cdot b^{-5} \cdot c^{3 - (-4)} \][/tex]

Simplify the exponents:

[tex]\[ a^{2 - (-2)} = a^{2 + 2} = a^4 \][/tex]

[tex]\[ c^{3 - (-4)} = c^{3 + 4} = c^7 \][/tex]

Thus, the expression inside the fraction becomes:

[tex]\[ a^4 \cdot b^{-5} \cdot c^7 = \frac{a^4 c^7}{b^5} \][/tex]

So the given expression now looks like:

[tex]\[ \left(\frac{a^4 c^7}{b^5}\right)^4 \][/tex]

Next, we apply the exponent 4 to each term inside the parentheses:

[tex]\[ \left(\frac{a^4 c^7}{b^5}\right)^4 = \frac{(a^4)^4 (c^7)^4}{(b^5)^4} \][/tex]

Simplify the exponents:

[tex]\[ (a^4)^4 = a^{4 \cdot 4} = a^{16} \][/tex]

[tex]\[ (c^7)^4 = c^{7 \cdot 4} = c^{28} \][/tex]

[tex]\[ (b^5)^4 = b^{5 \cdot 4} = b^{20} \][/tex]

So the expression becomes:

[tex]\[ \frac{a^{16} c^{28}}{b^{20}} \][/tex]

Therefore, the simplified form of the expression using only positive exponents is:

[tex]\[ \boxed{\frac{a^{16} c^{28}}{b^{20}}} \][/tex]

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