\frac{7^{8}}{7^{10}}=7^{x} the missing exponent

1 answer

To solve the equation \(\frac{7^{8}}{7^{10}}=7^{x}\), we can use the properties of exponents.

According to the property of exponents, when you divide two expressions with the same base, you subtract the exponents:

\[ \frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n} \]

Applying this to our expression:

\[ \frac{7^{8}}{7^{10}} = 7^{8-10} = 7^{-2} \]

Now we have:

\[ 7^{-2} = 7^{x} \]

Since the bases are the same, we can set the exponents equal to each other:

\[ -2 = x \]

Thus, the missing exponent \(x\) is:

\[ \boxed{-2} \]