Loi used these steps to simplify the expression where was his step 1, 2, 3, or 4

Error in the third step.

Step-by-step explanation:

The given expression is

Step 1 :

There is no error in this step.

Step 2 :

No error in this step

Step 3 : \frac{2^{2}}{x^{12}y^{2}}

There is an error in this step.

negative exponent of 2 will be reversed and it will come in the numerator.

Step 4: \frac{4}{x^{12}y^{2}}

Therefore, there was an error in the 3rd step.