To simplify the expression x1/2 divided by x2/7, we can use the laws of exponents. Specifically, the rule states that when you divide like bases, you subtract the exponents. Therefore, we can express this as:
x1/2 / x2/7 = x1/2 – 2/7
Now, to perform the subtraction of the exponents 1/2 and 2/7, we first need a common denominator. The least common multiple of the denominators 2 and 7 is 14. Thus, we can convert both fractions:
- For 1/2:
- 1/2 = 7/14
- For 2/7:
- 2/7 = 4/14
Substituting these values back into our exponent subtraction gives us:
x7/14 – 4/14 = x3/14
Thus, the simplified form of the original expression x1/2 / x2/7 is:
x3/14
This shows that the original expression simplifies cleanly based on exponent rules.