SAT Exponent rule problem

When I look at this problem, my first instinct is to rewrite 8x/2y . I know that if I have both the numerator and denominator terms written with the same base, I can manipulate the equation further by applying exponent rules. Since I have a fraction, I am certain that the quotient rule will be handy.

There is not much I can do with the denominator 2^y. The numerator, however, can be rewritten. 8 = 2³, therefore instead of having 8 in that expression, I can rewrite it in its exponent form as so:

8^x / 2^y = (2³)^x / 2^y

This is also equivalent to

2^(3x) / 2^y

We now notice that both the numerator and denominator are expressed with a base of 2. We can then apply the quotient rule which states the following

a^m / a^n = a^(m-n)

Applying that rule will result in:

2^(3x) / 2^y = 2^(3x-y)

Remember the condition that we were initially given, that 3x-y = 12? All that is left to do is to substitute that in our most recent expression:

2^(12)

And that is the answer, option A)