text: simplifying rational exponents? how do you simplify... ( (a^-12 * b^-4)^1/2 ) / ( a^4 * c^-8 )^1/2 [(a^-12*b^-4)^1/2]/ [a^4*c^-8)^1/2] =[a^(-12*1/2 *b^(-4*1/2]/ a^(4*1/2*c^(-8*1/2(] =[a^-6*b-2]/[a^2*c^-4] =[a^-6*b^-2]xa^-2*c^4] =a^(-6-2)*b^(-2)*c^4 =a^-8*b^-2*c^4.this can also be written as  c^4/(a^8*b^2)