Simplify (b^-17b^11)/(b^-5)

$\frac{b^{- 17} b^{11}}{b^{- 5}}$

Multiply $b^{- 17}$ by $b^{11}$ by adding the exponents.

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{b^{- 17 + 11}}{b^{- 5}}$

Add $- 17$ and $11$ .

$\frac{b^{- 6}}{b^{- 5}}$

Move $b^{- 6}$ to the denominator using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{b^{- 5} b^{6}}$

Simplify the denominator.

Multiply $b^{- 5}$ by $b^{6}$ by adding the exponents.

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$\frac{1}{b^{- 5 + 6}}$

Add $- 5$ and $6$ .

$\frac{1}{b^{1}}$

Simplify $b^{1}$ .

$\frac{1}{b}$