A student simplified this expression: (3^3 time 3^-2)/ using these steps:

Question

Step 1: (3^-6)/(3^12)
Step 2: (1)/(3^6 times 3^12)
Step 3: (1)/(3^18)
Which of these steps contains a mistake from the previous step?

Answer 1

The mistake is in Step 2.

In Step 2, the student should multiply the exponents instead of dividing them. The correct step should be: (1)/(3^(-6 + 12)) = (1)/(3^6)