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).

To convert a negative exponent to a positive exponent, calculate the positive exponent then take the reciprocal.

The distributive property for division helps in solving expressions like \({b + c \over a}\). It specifies that the result of dividing a fraction with multiple terms in the numerator and one term in the denominator can be obtained by dividing each term individually and then totaling the results: \({b + c \over a} = {b \over a} + {c \over a}\). For example, \({a^3 + 6a^2 \over a^2} = {a^3 \over a^2} + {6a^2 \over a^2} = a + 6\).

A factorial is the product of an integer and all the positive integers below it. To solve a fraction featuring factorials, expand the factorials and cancel out like numbers:

\( \frac{5!}{4!} \)
\( \frac{5 \times 4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1}{4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1} \)
\( \frac{5}{1} \)
5

1