How do you simplify x^6 / x^2?

How do you simplify x^6 / x^2?

• A. Add the exponents: x^(6+2) = x^8
• B. Subtract the exponents: x^(6-2) = x^4
• C. Multiply the exponents: x^(6*2) = x^12
• D. Divide the bases and keep exponent 6

Answer: (B)

When dividing expressions that share the same base, you subtract the exponents. So x^6 divided by x^2 becomes x^(6−2) = x^4. You can see this by factoring x^6 as x^2·x^4 and then canceling x^2 in the numerator and denominator, leaving x^4. The idea of adding exponents applies to multiplication, not division, and the other notions don’t follow the rule for dividing powers with the same base. The result is x^4.

When dividing expressions that share the same base, you subtract the exponents. So x^6 divided by x^2 becomes x^(6−2) = x^4. You can see this by factoring x^6 as x^2·x^4 and then canceling x^2 in the numerator and denominator, leaving x^4. The idea of adding exponents applies to multiplication, not division, and the other notions don’t follow the rule for dividing powers with the same base. The result is x^4.