@kentilton: "The problem was a^4*a^-6, I said a^-2, my software 
(<url> said it was not simplest form, but 
1/a^2 was.
Who is right?!!!
Mind you the target is an educational setting, if that matters.
I think my software is right, but I started to wonder.
cheers, kenny
-
<url>"
    @frederickwilliams2: "<quote>
"Simplest form" has no precise definition so the question is not
answerable.  In the context of formalized languages "simplest" could be
defined to mean "that which has the smallest number of symbols", but
that is of no relevance here.
He is not here; but far away
  The noise of life begins again
  And ghastly thro' the drizzling rain
On the bald street breaks the blank day."
    @kentilton: "<quote>
If you gave a test and said reduce to simplest form... well, one book I 
have explicitly says to rewrite without negative exponents. I imagine 
before any test we would spell that out, or on the test likewise make 
the requirmeent explicit.
I think I will let the community complain, and it may well end up a 
preference.
I heard that suggestion on my last such suggestion. Ironically 1/a^2 has 
more symbols than a^-2.
thx to all for the input.
kenny
-
<url>"
    @frederickwilliams2: "<quote>
If I was in that position (luckily I'm not) I'd accept both 1/a^2 and
a^-2 as correct.
He is not here; but far away
  The noise of life begins again
  And ghastly thro' the drizzling rain
On the bald street breaks the blank day."
    @rolf180: ""Kenny" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:48a77e90$0$29517$<email_address>
<quote>
a^-2   is,    least number of symbols  from Ga Tech Math dept "
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