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Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:38 pm
by Thenior
Hey guys and gals,

Have a quick math question.

I have this math problem:

| x^-2y | ^-2
|x^-3y^5|

Or if you prefer to have it written out correctly:

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((x^-2y)/(x-3y^5))^-2
Here is the conclusion I came to:

1) Distribute

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^-2
this would equal:

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x^4 y^-2 / x^6 y^-10
2) Flip negative exponents. This would equal:

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x^4 y^10 / x^6 y^2
3) Subtract denominator exponents from numerator. This would equal:

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y^8 / x^2
Is my logic sound? This was on some homework I have, and none of the text went over this specific type of problem.

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:24 pm
by fliptw
is it x^2-2y or x^(-2y)?

note: (x+1)^2 != x^2+1

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:58 am
by snoopy
If your original equation is this:
math.JPG
math.JPG (2.04 KiB) Viewed 630 times
I think you did it correctly. Next time, use "*" signs and more parentheses to denote multiplication and what's being raised to what power, otherwise, your equation could read like this, which is a different beast:
math2.JPG
math2.JPG (1.99 KiB) Viewed 630 times

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:15 pm
by Thenior
Sorry snoopy - thanks for the info and help!

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:52 am
by snoopy
It's all good. When/if you get into using computer programs to solve stuff for you, you can get messed up. I'm usually really crazy about parenthesis in excel, just to make sure that it performs the correct operations on the correct items.

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:51 pm
by Burlyman
These are rational functions, not polynomials. Just sayin'. :P

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:47 pm
by Top Gun
Um...they're rational polynomials, chief. :P

Re: Math question - Polynomials

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 2:23 pm
by Foil
Yep, they're simply rational polynomial expressions at this point.