Simplifying Algebraic Expressions: (3a²b - 6ab + 5ab²)(ab)⁻¹
This article will walk through the process of simplifying the algebraic expression (3a²b - 6ab + 5ab²)(ab)⁻¹.
Understanding the Concepts
Before we start simplifying, let's understand the key concepts involved:
- Exponent Rule: When a term with an exponent is raised to another exponent, we multiply the exponents. For example: (x^m)^n = x^(m*n).
- Negative Exponent Rule: A term with a negative exponent is equal to its reciprocal with a positive exponent. For example: x⁻¹ = 1/x.
Simplifying the Expression
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Simplify (ab)⁻¹: Applying the negative exponent rule, we get: (ab)⁻¹ = 1/(ab).
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Rewrite the Expression: Now, our expression becomes: (3a²b - 6ab + 5ab²)(1/ab)
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Multiply each term by 1/(ab): This results in:
- (3a²b * 1/ab) - (6ab * 1/ab) + (5ab² * 1/ab)
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Simplify by cancelling common factors:
- (3a²/a) - (6b/b) + (5ab/a)
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Final Simplified Expression: The simplified expression is: 3a - 6 + 5b
Conclusion
We have successfully simplified the expression (3a²b - 6ab + 5ab²)(ab)⁻¹ to 3a - 6 + 5b by applying basic exponent rules and simplifying the expression step-by-step. Remember to always work carefully and follow the order of operations for accurate results.