A number with an exponent (b^e) consists of a base (b) raised to a power (e). The exponent indicates the number of times that the base is multiplied by itself. A base with an exponent of 1 equals the base (b¹ = b) and a base with an exponent of 0 equals 1 ( (b⁰ = 1).

The first few multiples of 9 are [9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90] and the first few multiples of 15 are [15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90]. The first few multiples they share are [45, 90] making 45 the smallest multiple 9 and 15 have in common.

A rational number (or fraction) is represented as a ratio between two integers, a and b, and has the form \({a \over b}\) where a is the numerator and b is the denominator. An improper fraction (\({5 \over 3} \)) has a numerator with a greater absolute value than the denominator and can be converted into a mixed number (\(1 {2 \over 3} \)) which has a whole number part and a fractional part.

The factors of 24 are [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24] and the factors of 24 are [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24]. They share 8 factors [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24] making 24 the greatest factor 24 and 24 have in common.

To divide terms with exponents, the base of both exponents must be the same. In this case they are so divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents:

\( \frac{-a^8}{4a^4} \)
\( \frac{-1}{4} \) a^{(8 - 4)}
-\(\frac{1}{4}\)a⁴