The ratio of football cards to baseball cards is 9:2 and the ratio of baseball cards to basketball cards is 9:1. To solve this problem, we need the baseball card side of each ratio to be equal so we need to rewrite the ratios in terms of a common number of baseball cards. (Think of this like finding the common denominator when adding fractions.) The ratio of football to baseball cards can also be written as 81:18 and the ratio of baseball cards to basketball cards as 18:2. So, the ratio of football cards to basketball cards is football:baseball, baseball:basketball or 81:18, 18:2 which reduces to 81:2.

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

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 commutative property states that, when adding or multiplying numbers, the order in which they're added or multiplied does not matter. For example, 3 + 4 and 4 + 3 give the same result, as do 3 x 4 and 4 x 3.

To add or subtract terms with exponents, both the base and the exponent must be the same. In this case they are so subtract the coefficients and retain the base and exponent:

-6c⁴ - 9c⁴
(-6 - 9)c⁴
-15c⁴