What is x squared divided by x?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the simplification of the expression 'x squared divided by x'. This can be solved by applying the rules of exponents.
Answer
The simplified expression is \( x \).
Answer for screen readers
The simplified expression is ( x ).
Steps to Solve
- Identify the expression to simplify
The expression given is ( \frac{x^2}{x} ).
- Apply the exponent rule
One of the rules of exponents states that when you divide two expressions with the same base, you subtract the exponents. In this case:
$$ \frac{x^2}{x} = x^{2 - 1} $$
- Simplify the exponent
Now, simplify the exponent:
$$ x^{2 - 1} = x^1 $$
- Write the final answer
Finally, we simplify ( x^1 ) to just ( x ).
The simplified expression is ( x ).
More Information
When you simplify expressions involving exponents, using the rules of exponents makes the process easier. In this case, the expression ( \frac{x^2}{x} ) simplifies directly to ( x ) by applying the subtraction rule for exponents.
Tips
One common mistake is forgetting that when dividing exponents, you need to subtract the exponents rather than simply canceling the ( x ) without regard for the powers.
