We have to find the values of a and b:
[tex]\frac{7^2\cdot7^8}{7^4}=\frac{7^a}{7^4}=7^b[/tex]We can use the laws of exponents to write:
[tex]\begin{gathered} 7^2\cdot7^8=7^a \\ 7^{2+8}=7^a \\ 7^{10}=7^a \\ 10=a \end{gathered}[/tex]Then, we can solve for b as:
[tex]\begin{gathered} \frac{7^a}{7^4}=7^b \\ 7^{a-4}=7^b \\ a-4=b \\ 10-4=b \\ 6=b \end{gathered}[/tex]Answer: a=10 and b=6
