Negative Exponents Easy

Rewrite using a positive exponent.

2w^-13

• -w¹³

Simplify

• 42x⁵

• -42/x⁵

• 42/x^-5

• 42/x⁵

Simplify: a^-4b³/c^-2

• b³c²/a⁴

• c²/a⁴b³

• a⁴b³c²

• a⁴c²/b³

• -6
• 8
• -8
• 1/8

When you see a negative exponent... (check ALL that apply)

• ... if it is in the numerator, flip it to the denominator and make the exponent positive

• ... if it is in the numerator, keep it there and make the exponent positive

• ... if it is in the denominator, keep it there and make the exponent positive

• ... if it is in the denominator, flip it to the numerator and make the exponent positive

According to exponent rules, if you have a negative exponent, you use the ____________________.

• negative

• reciprocal

• positive

Rewrite using a positive exponent.
g^-7

• ¹/_g⁷

• g⁷

• ¹/_g^-7

• -g⁷

Solve

• a^-2

• a²

• 1/a¹

It is not proper to write answers with negative exponents. How do we "take care of" negative exponents?

• Write no solution if there is a negative exponent

• Just leave the negative exponent. It is mathematically okay.