Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: b^3 x^5 a^5 z^2
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question assesses your skill in manipulating algebraic expressions with multiple variables and exponents. Simplifying products and quotients of powers is a fundamental algebra technique used in higher mathematics, physics, and engineering formulas.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Key exponent rules:
Step-by-Step Solution:
Consider the numerator: (b^3 x^2 a^4 z^3) · (b^4 x^3 a^3 z^2).
Combine exponents for each variable: b^(3 + 4) x^(2 + 3) a^(4 + 3) z^(3 + 2).
This gives b^7 x^5 a^7 z^5.
Now divide by the denominator a^2 b^4 z^3.
Apply exponent subtraction: a^(7 − 2) = a^5, b^(7 − 4) = b^3, z^(5 − 3) = z^2, and x^5 remains unchanged.
Therefore the simplified expression is a^5 b^3 x^5 z^2, which can be written as b^3 x^5 a^5 z^2.
Verification / Alternative check:
As a numerical check, assign values a = 2, b = 3, x = 4, and z = 5. Compute the original expression and the simplified form with a calculator or carefully by hand. Both evaluations will yield the same numerical result, confirming that the algebraic simplification is correct.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a: b^2 x^4 a^6 z has incorrect exponents for b, x, a, and z compared to the correct subtraction and addition of exponents.
Option b: b^3 x^2 a^4 z^3 reproduces part of the original numerator and fails to include the effect of the second factor and the denominator.
Option d: b a z x severely underestimates the powers and ignores the exponent arithmetic.
Option e: a^7 b^3 x^5 z^2 has the wrong exponent for a since 7 − 2 should give 5, not 7.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes add instead of subtracting exponents during division, or forget to combine like bases across both numerators before dividing. Another mistake is misreading variables and mixing up exponents for x and z. Carefully grouping all like terms before applying exponent rules helps avoid these issues.
Final Answer:
The simplified expression is b^3 x^5 a^5 z^2.
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