Divide (12x^ay^b)÷(-6x^ay)

$12 x^{a} y^{b} \div (- 6 x^{a} y)$

Step 1

Rewrite the division as a fraction.

$\frac{12 x^{a} y^{b}}{- 6 x^{a} y}$

Step 2

Cancel the common factor of $12$ and $- 6$ .

Factor $6$ out of $12 x^{a} y^{b}$ .

$\frac{6 (2 x^{a} y^{b})}{- 6 x^{a} y}$

Cancel the common factors.

Factor $6$ out of $- 6 x^{a} y$ .

$\frac{6 (2 x^{a} y^{b})}{6 (- x^{a} y)}$

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{6 (2 x^{a} y^{b})}{6 (- x^{a} y)}$

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{2 x^{a} y^{b}}{- x^{a} y}$

Step 3

Cancel the common factor of $x^{a}$ .

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{2 x^{a} y^{b}}{- x^{a} y}$

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{2 y^{b}}{- 1 y}$

Step 4

Cancel the common factor of $y^{b}$ and $y$ .

Factor $y$ out of $2 y^{b}$ .

$\frac{y (2 y^{b - 1})}{- 1 y}$

Move the negative one from the denominator of $\frac{2 y^{b - 1}}{- 1}$ .

$- 1 \cdot (2 y^{b - 1})$

Step 5

Rewrite $- 1 \cdot (2 y^{b - 1})$ as $- (2 y^{b - 1})$ .

$- (2 y^{b - 1})$

Step 6

Multiply $2$ by $- 1$ .

$- 2 y^{b - 1}$