Owen simplified the expression r-8 s-5.

r-8s-5 = 1r8 ⋅ s5 = s5r8

r⁻⁸ s⁻⁵

using the rule x⁻ⁿ=1/xⁿ

r⁻⁸ s⁻⁵ = (1/r⁸) (1/s⁵)

Sample Response: Each base must be treated separately. Since each base is raised to a negative exponent, they should both be in the denominator of the fractions. The simplified form of the expression has 1 in the numerator and r to the 8th power times s to the 5th power in the denominator.