Exponents Rule #6

Exponents Rule #6

Negative Exponent Rule

What if there are negative exponents on a variable?

• The process is still exactly the same. You will get rid of the negative and place the term with the exponent in the denominator of a fraction with a 1 in the numerator or a number if the variable has a coefficient.  

•  $x^{-4}$   $\rightarrow\ \frac{1}{x^4}$  

•  $3x^{-5}\rightarrow\ \frac{3}{x^5}$  

Multiple Choice

 $3^{-2}$  

•  $9$  

• -9

•  $-\frac{1}{9}$  

•  $\frac{1}{9}$  

Multiple Choice

 $x^{-8}$ 

•  $\frac{1}{x^8}$  
  

•  $\frac{x}{8}$ 

•  $-\frac{1}{x^8}$  

•  $\frac{1}{x^{-8}}$  

Multiple Choice

 $4y^{-6}$  

•  $\frac{4}{y^{-6}}$  
  

•  $\frac{4}{y^6}$  

•  $\frac{4y}{6}$  

•  $\frac{6}{4y}$