To simplify the expression \( r^{-7} + p^{-12} \), we first rewrite it in terms of positive exponents:
\[ r^{-7} = \frac{1}{r^7} \quad \text{and} \quad p^{-12} = \frac{1}{p^{12}} \]
Thus, the expression becomes:
\[ \frac{1}{r^7} + \frac{1}{p^{12}} \]
Now, looking at the response choices, the simplified form is:
- the fraction with numerator 1 and denominator r to the 7th power plus the fraction with numerator 1 and denominator p to the 12th power.
This corresponds to the converted form of the original expression.