%5E-1-without-exponents.jpeg "(8/3)^-1 Without Exponents")
Understanding (8/3)^-1 Without Exponents
The expression (8/3)^-1 might look intimidating, but it's actually quite simple to understand. Let's break it down step by step without using exponents:
Understanding Negative Exponents
A negative exponent essentially means we're dealing with the reciprocal of the base. The reciprocal of a number is simply 1 divided by that number.
Applying This to (8/3)^-1
- Identify the base: In this case, the base is (8/3).
- Find the reciprocal: The reciprocal of (8/3) is (3/8).
Therefore, (8/3)^-1 is equivalent to 3/8.
Why does this work?
A common way to think about it is:
- (8/3) * (8/3)^-1 = 1
Since anything multiplied by its inverse equals 1, we know (8/3)^-1 must be the reciprocal of (8/3), which is 3/8.
In conclusion, by understanding the concept of reciprocals and negative exponents, we can simplify expressions like (8/3)^-1 without using exponents.