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Positive and Negative Exponents  Date: 06/30/99 at 12:33:38
From: Lauren Fortner Subject: Algebra: using the power theorem
I understand how to get problems from "beginning" form, for
example:       x (x^-3)^2 y (xy^-2)^-3       (y^2)^3 y^-3
(x^2)^3  to "after" you use power theorem:       x x^-6 y x^-3
y^6        y^6 y^-3 x^6  and then when you simplify the
numerator and denominator:       x^-8 y^7      y^3 x^6  What I
don't understand is how you get from that to writing all
exponential expressions with positive exponents, or negative
exponents, or with both. I homeschool, so I don't really have
anyone  to ask.  Thank you for your help.  Date: 07/01/99 at
17:00:53 From: Doctor Peterson Subject: Re: Algebra: using the
power theorem  Hi, Lauren. Thanks for a well-written question -
it really helps to  know just what part you have trouble with.
The key to this step is that       x^-a    1