8 to the 12 power over 8 to the 9th power equals 8 to the what power?

1 answer

consider

8^12 = 8*8*8...*8 12 times
8*9 = 8*8*8...*8 9 times

nine of those factors cancel out, leaving 3 in the top, or

8^3

This is why

x^m / x^n = x^(m-n)

since n of the factors cancel out when reducing the fraction.