16Hit1600
Advanced MathHardSimplifying a squared monomial over a monomial

Advanced Math practice question

For x ≠ 0 and y ≠ 0, which expression is equivalent to (x³y)² / (xy²)?

  1. A. x⁵Correct
  2. B. x⁴y
  3. C. x⁵y²
  4. D. x⁶/y

Answer: A. x⁵

(x³y)² = x⁶y². Divide by xy²: x⁶⁻¹ · y²⁻² = x⁵ · y⁰ = x⁵.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. x⁴y
x⁴y subtracts 2 from the x exponent and 1 from the y exponent — the denominators' exponents were swapped.
C. x⁵y²
x⁵y² forgets to divide the y² by y².
D. x⁶/y
x⁶/y forgets to divide by the x, and mishandles the y's.

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