%5E-1-without-exponents.jpeg "(5/6)^-1 Without Exponents")
Understanding (5/6)^-1 without Exponents
The expression (5/6)^-1 might seem intimidating at first glance, especially if you're not comfortable with exponents. However, it's quite simple to understand once you know the rules!
The Power of Negative Exponents
A negative exponent essentially means taking the reciprocal of the base. In other words, (5/6)^-1 is the same as 1 divided by (5/6).
Reciprocals
The reciprocal of a fraction is simply flipping the numerator and denominator. Therefore, the reciprocal of (5/6) is (6/5).
Putting it Together
Now, let's combine these concepts:
(5/6)^-1 = 1 / (5/6) = 6/5
So, (5/6)^-1 is equivalent to 6/5.
Key Takeaway
Remember: a negative exponent signifies taking the reciprocal of the base. By applying this rule and understanding reciprocals, you can easily simplify expressions involving negative exponents without using them directly.