Negative Exponents
What are negative exponents? Well, when you think about it, exponents are basically repeated multiplication. And if negative is the opposite of positive, what's the opposite of multiplication? Division! The rule for negative exponents is x^-n=1/xⁿ. So 4^-3 is 1/4³. 9^-2 is 1/9².
Negative Exponents Example
Simplify:
24^-3×⅞
=1/24³×⅞ → convert into positive exponents
=1/13,824×⅞ → simplify
=7/110,592 → multiply the fractions by multiplying the numerators together and dominators together
24^-3×⅞
=1/24³×⅞ → convert into positive exponents
=1/13,824×⅞ → simplify
=7/110,592 → multiply the fractions by multiplying the numerators together and dominators together
Negative Exponents Practice Problem
Simplify 30^-2×⅗
Answer Key
Answer Key