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Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. divide monomials.
2. simplify negative exponents.
Designed by Skip Tyler, Varina High School
Dividing Monomials
When dividing monomials, subtract the
exponents.
5
b
bbbbb
5-2
3
1. 2
=b =b
b
bb
7
5
m
n
6
3
7-1
5-2
2.
n =m n
2 = m
mn
3 7
xy
3. 2 6
xy
3
7
x y
3 2 7 6 = xy
x y
2 6
x y
8 3
81a b
4.
5
9a b
8 3
81a b
8-5 3-1
3
2
9a
b
= 9a b
5
9a b
2
7
64g h
Simplify
5
16gh
1.
2.
3.
4.
48g2h2
48gh2
4g2h2
4gh2
Here’s a tricky one!
3 3
3m n
5.
3 2
3m n
=
0
1m n
=n
What happened to the m?
3
3
3m n
3m m m n n n
3 2
3m n
3m m m n n
3
They canceled out! m
1
3
m
There are no m’s left over!
This leads us to our next rule…
Zero Exponents
Anything to the 0 power is equal to 1.
a0 = 1
True or False?
Anything divided by itself equals one.
True!
See for yourself!
3
1
3
x
1
x
m3
1
3
m
3 1
x 1
m 1
0
0
0
Simplify (denominator LARGER).
4 2
3r s
7.
3 4
18r s
Look and see (visualize) where you have
the larger exponent and leave the
variable in that location. Subtract the
smaller exponent from the larger one.
r is larger in the numerator and s is larger in the denominator.
4 2
4-3
r
3r s
1r
2
3 4
4-2
6s
18r s
6s
application
• coolmath.com
• purplemath.com
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