Exponent Question: Simplifying 6ab - 2b2 / 12ab - 4b2

[Carnivean]

Hi I am currently doing this problem and ran into a fork in the road-

6ab - 2b² / 12ab - 4b²

I got .5ab + .5b² as my answer. Now I am wondering if the second part is right because I am not sure if -2b² / -4b²
is either .5b² or just 1.. because the exponents 2-2= 0 and anything with the exponent of 0 equals 1 right?

Some help would be appreciated.

 

[sheyshaw]

If its (6ab - 2b^2) / (12ab - 4b^2)

pull out the common multiples from the numerator and dominator

also .5b^2 and 1 don't work

 

[sheyshaw]

yes anything with exponent of 0 equals one you then multiply that one with -2 / -4,... the same way any number divided that number is one except zero yada yada yada...