%5E-2-without-exponent.jpeg "(-7)^-2 Without Exponent")
Understanding (-7)^-2 without Exponents
The expression (-7)^-2 can seem intimidating at first, but it's actually quite straightforward when you understand the rules of exponents. Here's a breakdown:
The Basics of Exponents
- Base: The number being multiplied by itself (in this case, -7).
- Exponent: The small number written above and to the right of the base, indicating how many times the base is multiplied by itself.
The Rule of Negative Exponents
A negative exponent signifies the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive version of the exponent. In other words:
x^-n = 1/x^n
Applying the Rule to (-7)^-2
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Identify the base and exponent: The base is -7, and the exponent is -2.
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Apply the rule of negative exponents: (-7)^-2 = 1/(-7)^2
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Calculate the positive exponent: (-7)^2 = (-7) * (-7) = 49
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Simplify the expression: 1/49
Therefore, (-7)^-2 is equivalent to 1/49.