Is My Solution to the Complex Algebraic Expression Correct?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation and simplification of a complex algebraic expression involving powers and fractions. Participants are examining the correctness of a proposed solution and exploring different approaches to simplify the expression.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents their step-by-step evaluation of the expression but questions its correctness.
  • Another participant acknowledges the messiness of the original solution but suggests that the final line is incorrect and proposes a reorganization of parentheses for clarity.
  • A third participant reformulates the problem, emphasizing the inversion of the fraction due to the negative exponent and providing a detailed breakdown of the simplification process.
  • A fourth participant expresses confusion regarding the interpretation of the expression, specifically about the application of the exponent and division in the context of the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the original solution. Multiple interpretations and approaches to the problem are presented, indicating ongoing debate and uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the application of exponents and the structure of the original expression, which may affect the simplification process.

mathdrama
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I had to evaluate this: [32x^5y^4)^2/5/(4x^2)^2y^3/5]^-1

This is how I did it, but is it correct?

= [32^2/5x^2y^4(2/5)-1
(4x^2)^(2y^3/5)

= [32^2/5x^2y^8/5)^-1
(4x2)^(2y^3/5)

= [(^5√32)^2*x^2y^8/5)-1
(4x2)^(2y^3/5)

= [(2)^2*x^2y^8/5)-1
(4x^2)^(2y^3/5)

= [4*x^2y^8/5]^-1
(4x^2)^(2y^3/5)= [4x^2y^8/5]-1
(4x^2)^(2y^3/5)= (4x^2)(^2y^3/5)
4x^2y^8/5
I apologize for all the messiness.
 
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Apart from all the messiness (of which there is a lot), I think that you may be getting towards the right answer. The final line of the calculation, $\dfrac{\text{(4x^2)(^2y^3/5)}}{\text{4x^2y^8/5}}$, makes no sense at all as it stands. But if you put one of the parentheses in the top row in a different position, so that it reads $\dfrac{\text{(4x^2)^2 y^(3/5)}} {\text{4x^2y^8/5}} = \dfrac{(4x^2)^2 y^{3/5}}{4x^2y^{8/5}}$, then you are on the right lines. But you can still simplify this further, by cancelling some of the stuff in the numerator with parts of the denominator.
 
Hello, mathdrama!

I think your problem looks like this:
\text{Simplify: }\:\left[\frac{(32x^5y^4)^{\frac{2}{5}}}{(4x^2)^2y^{\frac{3}{5}}}\right]^{-1}
A fraction to the minus-one power is inverted: .\left(\tfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-1} \:=\:\tfrac{b}{a}

\left[\frac{(32x^5y^4)^{\frac{2}{5}}}{(4x^2)^2y^{\frac{3}{5}}}\right]^{-1}

. . =\;\frac{(2^2\cdot x^2)^2\cdot y^{\frac{3}{5}}}{(2^5\cdot x^5\cdot y^4)^{\frac{2}{5}}}

. . =\;\frac{(2^2)^2\cdot (x^2)^2\cdot y^{\frac{3}{5}}} {(2^5)^{\frac{2}{5}}\cdot (x^5)^{\frac{2}{5}}\cdot (y^4)^{\frac{2}{5}}}

. . =\;\frac{2^4\cdot x^4\cdot y^{\frac{3}{5}}}{2^2\cdot x^2\cdot y^{\frac{8}{5}}}

. . =\;2^{4-2}\cdot x^{4-2}\cdot y^{\frac{3}{5}-\frac{8}{5}}

. . =\;2^2\cdot x^2\cdot y^{-1}

. . =\;\frac{4x^2}{y}
 
what i quite don't understand about this question "[32x^5y^4)^2/5/(4x^2)^2y^3/5]^-1" is after the first raise to the power of two (bold above) is the index devided by 5 and so on or is it the question so far that is divided by 5 and so on.
 

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