Question

Use the rules of exponents to evaluate and simplify the expression. Type all without negative exponents. Make sure “a”and “b” are both in parentheses

Answer 1

We are given the following expression:

$(ab)^{-2}$

First, we will use the following property of exponentials:

$(xy)^{-c}=x{}^{-c}y^{-c}$

Applying the property we get:

$(ab)^{-2}=(a^{-2})(b^{-2})$

Now, we use the following property of exponentials:

$x^{-c}=\frac{1}{x^c}$

Applying the property we get:

$(a^{-2})(b^{-2})=\frac{1}{(a^2)(b^2)}=\frac{1}{(ab)^2}$

Since we can't simplify any further this is the final answer.