Which are the correct steps to follow to simplify an exponential expression using the Quotient Rule of Integer Exponents?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Check if the bases are different; if they are, subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator; and write the resulting expression in exponential form.
Check if the bases are different; if they are, subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator; and write the resulting expression in exponential form.

Check if the bases are the same; if they are, subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator (leave as-is otherwise); and write the resulting expression in exponential form.
Check if the bases are the same; if they are, subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator (leave as-is otherwise); and write the resulting expression in exponential form.

Subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator; and write the resulting expression in exponential form.
Subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator; …

Answer 1

The correct steps to follow to simplify an exponential expression using the Quotient Rule of Integer Exponents are:

Check if the bases are the same; if they are, subtract the exponents of the numerator and denominator (leave as-is otherwise); and write the resulting expression in exponential form.

So, the second response is the accurate one. The Quotient Rule states that for any non-zero base \( a \):

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

This applies only when the bases are the same. If the bases are different, you cannot apply the Quotient Rule and need to leave the expression as-is.