Question

We were never taught this in class, and I understand it, kind of... but i'm just confused with everything.

Answer 1

Its alright, You are doing better than a whole bunch of people
you know why?
because you realized you needed help and asked.

Now, aside from mushy pep talk, let me help you a bit.

When multiplying numbers with exponents, its the same as adding the exponents so $x^{2} * x^{3} = x^{5}$
cool right?

now you can take your answer $\frac{ x^{5} y^{10}}{ x^{9} y^{5}}$

Remember though, if you don't see the exponent, it is 1, not zero.

so if you noticed, $x * x^{8} = x^{9}$
just remember that and you should be fine

also, if you have to simplify more, and example would be $\frac{ x^{2} }{x} = x$

you get that from subtracting the $x^{1}$ from the top $x^{2}$

BUT

if it is $\frac{ x^{2} y^{2} }{ x^{2}}$ YOU DO NOTHING this is because that $x^{2}$ on the top is being multiplied by $y^{2}$, which means it changes the equations value

Answer 2

In simpler terms, you would combine all the xs and ys by using addition in the exponents so you would have x to the fifth times y to the tenth on top and then x to the ninth times y on the bottom.