When working with indices it is important to give examples. When the question is a times, you add the indices, and when it is a divide, you take the indices away.
For example:
3(2) X 8(3) = 24(5)
You times 3 and the 8 together as normal, and then add the indices.
8(6) / 4(2) = 2(4)
you divide 4 into 8 as normal, and then take the indices away because it is a divide question, eg. 6-2