Negative Exponents

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Lesson


Notes

Negative Exponents

\(\displaystyle a^{-b}=\frac{1}{a^b}\)


Practice Problems

Express each without any negative exponents

\(\textbf{1)}\) \(9^{-1}\)


\(\textbf{2)}\) \(\left(\frac{1}{9}\right)^{-1}\)


\(\textbf{3)}\) \(9^{\frac{1}{2}}\)


\(\textbf{4)}\) \(9^{-\frac{1}{2}}\)


\(\textbf{5)}\) \(\left(\frac{1}{9}\right)^{\frac{1}{2}}\)


\(\textbf{6)}\) \(\left(\frac{1}{9}\right)^{-\frac{1}{2}}\)


\(\textbf{7)}\) \(5^{-2}\)


\(\textbf{8)}\) \(\displaystyle \left(\frac{1}{4}\right) ^{-2} \)


\(\textbf{9)}\) \(\displaystyle \left(\frac{1}{4}\right) ^{-1/2} \)


\(\textbf{10)}\) \(4^{-1/2}\)


\(\textbf{11)}\) \( (2z^3 w^6 )^{-4} \)
Link to Youtube Video Solving Question Number 11


\(\textbf{12)}\) \( \displaystyle \left(\frac{4}{9}\right) ^{-1/2} \)Link to Youtube Video Solving Question Number 12


\(\textbf{13)}\) \( \displaystyle\frac{4x^4 y^{-2} z}{6x^{-1} yz} \)Link to Youtube Video Solving Question Number 13


\(\textbf{14)}\) \( \displaystyle \left(\frac{5x^5 y^{-3} z^2}{6x^{-2} yz} \right)^{-2} \)Link to Youtube Video Solving Question Number 14


\(\textbf{15)}\) \( 3^{-4} \div 3^{-8} \)


See Related Pages\(\)

\(\bullet\text{ Intro to Exponents}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\)
\(\bullet\text{ Zero Exponents}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,3^{0}=1…\)
\(\bullet\text{ Rational Exponents}\)
\(\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\)


In Summary

A negative exponent indicates that the number or variable at the base is a reciprocal. For example, \(a^{-2}=\frac{1}{a^2}\).

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