apply the quotient rule of exponent to simplify 9 to the 8 power / 9 to the 6 power as an equivalent expression

To simplify the expression 9^8/9^6 using the quotient rule of exponents, we subtract the exponents.

According to the quotient rule, when dividing two numbers with the same base, we subtract the exponents:

a^m / a^n = a^(m-n)

So, applying this rule to our expression:

9^8 / 9^6 = 9^(8-6) = 9^2

Therefore, 9^8 / 9^6 simplifies to 9^2.