%5E-1-without-exponent.jpeg "(4/5)^-1 Without Exponent")
Understanding (4/5)^-1 Without Exponents
The expression (4/5)^-1 might seem intimidating at first, especially if you're not familiar with negative exponents. However, it's quite simple to understand and solve once you know the rules.
The Basics of Negative Exponents
A negative exponent simply indicates the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive value of the exponent. In simpler terms, you flip the fraction and make the exponent positive.
Applying the Rule to (4/5)^-1
- Flip the fraction: The reciprocal of 4/5 is 5/4.
- Make the exponent positive: The exponent -1 becomes 1.
Therefore, (4/5)^-1 is equivalent to (5/4)^1 which is simply 5/4.
Conclusion
By understanding the concept of negative exponents and applying the rule of reciprocals, we can easily simplify expressions like (4/5)^-1 without the need for exponents. This demonstrates the power of mathematical rules to simplify complex expressions into more manageable forms.