Does a^5/2 mean a?/2, or is the exponent all of 5/2? If it is all of 5/2, then use parentheses around 5/2. (b^3 / a^(5/2))^2 * (2a^4 / b^5) = ((b^3)^2 / (a^(5/2))^2) * (2a^4 / b^5) = (b^6 / a^5) * (2a^4 / b^5) = 2b/a