Example

Simplifying b8b12\frac{b^8}{b^{12}} Using the Quotient Property

Apply the Quotient Property for Exponents to simplify a quotient with a variable base where the larger exponent is in the denominator.

To simplify b8b12\frac{b^8}{b^{12}}, first compare the exponents. Both the numerator and denominator share the base bb. Because the denominator exponent 1212 is greater than the numerator exponent 88, there are more factors of bb on the bottom. Apply the n>mn > m case of the Quotient Property (aman=1anm\frac{a^m}{a^n} = \frac{1}{a^{n-m}}) by subtracting the smaller numerator exponent from the larger denominator exponent: b8b12=1b128\frac{b^8}{b^{12}} = \frac{1}{b^{12-8}}. This simplifies to 1b4\frac{1}{b^4}.

When the larger exponent appears in the denominator, the simplified result is a fraction with 11 in the numerator and a power of the base in the denominator.

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Updated 2026-05-13

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