2. \( \frac{24^{5}}{8^{5}} \)

Did you know that simplifying \( \frac{24^{5}}{8^{5}} \) is a breeze? You can pull out the power of 5, turning it into \( \left( \frac{24}{8} \right)^{5} \). And what do you get when you divide 24 by 8? That’s right! It’s 3. So, \( \left( \frac{24}{8} \right)^{5} = 3^{5} = 243 \). Simplifying fractions with exponents is like slicing up a delicious cake — easy and super satisfying! Now, here’s a little trick for you: always check if the bases can be simplified first. In cases like this, dividing the numbers before raising them to the power saves time and simplifies your calculations. A common mistake is to forget about the base simplification and dive straight into calculations, which can lead to bigger numbers and more room for error. Keep it simple, and you'll always find the right slice!