Negative Exponents

Front

What is a negative exponent?

Back

A negative exponent indicates that the base should be taken as the reciprocal raised to the opposite positive exponent.

Front

Rewrite using a positive exponent: 7^-10

Back

1/7^10

Front

Evaluate: 2^-3

Back

1/2^3 = 1/8

Front

Rewrite using a positive exponent: w^-13

Back

1/w^13

Front

Evaluate: (-3)^-2

Back

1/(-3)^2 = 1/9

Front

What is the rule for negative exponents?

Back

a^-n = 1/a^n for any non-zero number a.

Front

Rewrite using a positive exponent: (-5)^-4

Back

1/(-5)^4

Front

Evaluate: 5^-1

Back

1/5

Front

What happens when you raise a number to the power of zero?

Back

Any non-zero number raised to the power of zero equals 1.

Front

Evaluate: 10^-2

Back

1/10^2 = 1/100