Chapter 5: Problem 65
Find the indicated products and quotients. Express final results using positive integral exponents only. \(\left(-7 a^{2} b^{-5}\right)\left(-a^{-2} b^{7}\right)\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The simplified expression is \(7b^2\).
Step by step solution
01
Recognize the operation
The problem requires us to multiply two expressions: \[(-7a^2b^{-5})(-a^{-2}b^7)\] We will apply the associative and commutative properties of multiplication to rearrange terms.
02
Multiply coefficients
Identify and multiply the coefficients (numerical parts) of the expressions. Here, the coefficients are -7 and -1 (remember the invisible -1 in front of \(-a^{-2}\)).\[-7 \times (-1) = 7\].
03
Multiply the variable terms with exponents
Next, apply the law of exponents that states \(x^m \times x^n = x^{m+n}\) to the variable parts of the expressions.- For the \(a\) terms: \[a^2 \times a^{-2} = a^{2 + (-2)} = a^0 = 1\].- For the \(b\) terms:\[b^{-5} \times b^7 = b^{-5 + 7} = b^2\].
04
Combine the results
Combine the results of steps 2 and 3:\[7 \times 1 \times b^2 = 7b^2\] Thus, the expression simplifies to \(7b^2\).
05
Express result with positive exponents
The result \(7b^2\) already has positive integral exponents for all terms. Therefore, the expression is simplified to its final form.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Multiplication of Expressions
Multiplication of expressions involves combining expressions systematically to achieve a single simplified form. When tackling a problem like \((-7a^2b^{-5})(-a^{-2}b^7)\), follow these simple guidelines:
- Understand the expressions: Break down and identify each part of the expressions to see both the coefficients (numbers) and variables (like \(a\) and \(b\) with their exponents).
- Perform operations methodically: Use the commutative property, which allows you to switch the order of multiplication, enabling a focused approach on like terms (numbers with numbers, and similar bases together).
- Handle coefficients separately: Multiply the numerical coefficients directly. In our case, multiply \(-7\) and \(-1\) to get a positive \(7\).
Integral Exponents
Integral exponents are simply the powers to which a number or variable is raised. They can be positive, negative, or zero. It's essential to understand how they function in operations like \((-7a^2b^{-5})(-a^{-2}b^7)\):
- Positive exponents: Indicate how many times a base number is used as a factor. For example, \(b^2\) means \(b\) is multiplied by itself.
- Negative exponents: Indicate a reciprocal. For instance, \(b^{-5}\) is seen as \(\frac{1}{b^5}\). When multiplying, they can switch to positive based on the combined total power.
- Zero exponents: Lead to the result being \(1\), as shown in \(a^0 = 1\).
Laws of Exponents
The laws of exponents provide a toolkit for handling expressions involving powers effectively. When working through the multiplication \((-7a^2b^{-5})(-a^{-2}b^7)\), these laws are invaluable:
- Product of powers: When bases are alike, add the exponents: \(x^m \times x^n = x^{m+n}\). For example, the \(b\) terms combine as \(b^{-5+7}=b^2\).
- Power of zero: Any base to the power of zero equals one: \(x^0 = 1\). The \(a\) terms illustrate this with \(a^{2-2} = a^0 = 1\).
- Negative exponents: Convert to positive by finding the reciprocal. Though not needed in our final result \(7b^2\), understanding this ensures clarity when we begin with expressions like \(b^{-5}\).