Question

why do you subtract exponents when dividing powers with the same base?

Answer 1

$\frac{a^6}{a^4} = \frac{a\times a \times a \times a \times a \times a}{a \times a \times a \times a} = a \times a = a ^{6-4} = a^2$

If you started crossing the a's in the numerator and denominator, then you would be left with a x a

Hope that helped :)