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Simplifying (m4n−3)(m−5n−2)(m^4n^{-3})(m^{-5}n^{-2}) and (p6q−2)(p−9q−1)(p^6q^{-2})(p^{-9}q^{-1}) Using the Product Property

Apply the Commutative Property and the Product Property for Exponents to simplify products containing multiple variables with negative exponents.

ⓐ (m4n−3)(m−5n−2)(m^4n^{-3})(m^{-5}n^{-2}): Use the Commutative Property to group factors with the same base together: m4m−5⋅n−3n−2m^4m^{-5} \cdot n^{-3}n^{-2}. Apply the Product Property by adding the exponents for each base: for mm, 4+(−5)=−14 + (-5) = -1; for nn, −3+(−2)=−5-3 + (-2) = -5. The expression simplifies to m−1n−5m^{-1}n^{-5}. Finally, apply the definition of a negative exponent to both variables, moving them to the denominator: 1m1⋅1n5=1mn5\frac{1}{m^1} \cdot \frac{1}{n^5} = \frac{1}{mn^5}.

ⓑ (p6q−2)(p−9q−1)(p^6q^{-2})(p^{-9}q^{-1}): Group like bases: p6p−9⋅q−2q−1p^6p^{-9} \cdot q^{-2}q^{-1}. Add the exponents for pp (6+(−9)=−36 + (-9) = -3) and for qq (−2+(−1)=−3-2 + (-1) = -3), resulting in p−3q−3p^{-3}q^{-3}. Take the reciprocals to change the signs of the exponents, yielding 1p3q3\frac{1}{p^3q^3}.

When dealing with multiple variables, group identical bases first, sum their exponents independently, and then resolve any resulting negative exponents by moving those specific factors to the denominator.

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Updated 2026-06-05

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