( x ⁄ y ) 2 ( x ⁄ y ) –2 ⁄ xy =

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First, square x ⁄ y : ( x ⁄ y ) 2 = x 2 ⁄ y 2 . Next, look at the ( x ⁄ y ) –2 term. A fraction with a negative exponent can be rewritten as the reciprocal of the fraction with a positive exponent: ( x ⁄ y ) –2 = ( y ⁄ x ) 2 = y 2 ⁄ x 2 . Multiply the fractions in the numerator: ( x 2 ⁄ y 2 )( y 2 ⁄ x 2 ) = 1. Finally, divide this fraction by xy: 1 ⁄ xy .

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