Multipying & Dividing Rules
Quotient of Powers
Example 4
What is the quotient of x3 and x8?
Step 1. Verify the bases are the same.
Both terms have a base of x.
Step 2. Use the Quotient of a Power Rule to divide the terms.
![Q_ex4 Q_ex4](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/2235/mod_book/chapter/4851/Power/images/Q_ex4.png)
*Note: This answer contains a negative exponent. However, an algebraic expression is in simplest form when it is written with only positive exponents.
Step 3. Write in simplest form.
![Q_ex4-2 Q_ex4-2](https://claregladwinresd.glk12.org/pluginfile.php/2235/mod_book/chapter/4851/Power/images/Q_ex4-2.png)
This answer can be verified by doing the division in expanded form:
More details on negative exponents will be presented in the "Zeros and Negative Exponents" book later in this unit.