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    Subtract Exponents of like bases

    Formula and examples of how to subtract exponents


    Related: Exponents | laws of exponents  | Rules of Exponents |Negative Exponents | Dividing With Exponents | Fraction Eponents | Exponential Equations

    Formula for Subtracting Exponents



    The general formula for simplifying negative exponents is shown in image below


    Examples of Subtracting Exponents Formula

    • There are two ways to demonstrate the reason behind this formula
    Explanation 1 : If you expand the numerator and the denominator, you can see that we cancel several x's that are common factors. ALl that remains is x*x which, of course, is x2
    Explanation 2:Rewrite the denominator as negative exponent and then simplify.

    Practice Problems: Subtracting Exponents of like bases

    Use the formula for subtracting exponents to simplify each expression below.
    Practice Problem 1
    Answer
    Practice Problem 2
    Answer
    Practice Problem 3
    Answer
    Practice Problem 4
    Answer
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