A=lw 42xy^3=(14xy)l isolate l divide both sides by 14xy to isolate l (42xy^3)/ (14xy)=14xy / 14xy *l the 14xy in the right cancel out now you have: 42xy^3/14xy=l 42/14= 3, now just do division of powers for xy x-x =0x, y^3-y= y^2 therefore the answer is 3y^2