Pre-Algebra Examples

$x^{- 4} \cdot x^{9} \cdot x^{- 8}$

Step 1

Multiply $x^{- 4}$ by $x^{9}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 1.1

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$x^{- 4 + 9} \cdot x^{- 8}$

Step 1.2

Add $- 4$ and $9$ .

$x^{5} \cdot x^{- 8}$

Step 2

Multiply $x^{5}$ by $x^{- 8}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 2.1

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$x^{5 - 8}$

Step 2.2

Subtract $8$ from $5$ .

$x^{- 3}$

Step 3

Rewrite the expression using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{x^{3}}$