Which of the following statements about exponents is incorrect?

The statement that indicates an incorrect application of exponent rules is that ((x^a)^b) equals (x^{(a+b)}). In reality, the correct relationship for exponents when raising a power to another power is ((x^a)^b = x^{(a \cdot b)}). This means you multiply the exponents, not add them.

The other statements correctly apply the properties of exponents. The statement that involves dividing two exponential expressions, (x^a/x^b), correctly simplifies to (x^{(a-b)}) by applying the rule that states you subtract the exponent in the denominator from the exponent in the numerator.

The multiplication of exponents noted in the next statement, (x^a * x^b), is also correct because it utilizes the property that when multiplying like bases, you add the exponents.

Finally, the last statement regarding negative exponents states that (x^{-a}) equals (1/x^a), which is a valid exponent rule indicating how negative exponents translate into their positive equivalents through division.

Thus, the only statement that does not accurately depict the rules of exponents is the first one, confirming its incorrectness.