What is the expression x^-4×x^5
O think it is x^9 because the reciporical of x^-4 is x^4 and adding the exponents is x^9
no, you are multiplying
when multiplying powers with the same base, keep the base and ADD the exponents
since -4+5 = 1
x^-4×x^5 = x^1 or just plain x
x^-4 * x^5 = 1/x^4 * x^5 = x^5/x^4 = x
You are close, but there's a small mistake in your explanation. To simplify the expression x^-4 × x^5, you're correct that you need to add the exponents. However, the reciprocal of x^-4 is not x^4, but rather 1/x^4.
So, when you multiply x^-4 × x^5, you add the exponents, giving you x^(5 - 4) = x^1 = x.
Therefore, the simplified expression is x.