A negative exponent tells us the product will be a fraction?

Answer 1

If by using the expression a fraction it is referring to the result being less than 1 then this only applies in certain cases.

1) If the number is greater than 1 on which the exponent is operating then the resultant will have a value less than 1.

Example : 2-3 = 1/23 = 1/8 = 0.125 : 3-1/3 = 1/31/3 = 0.693

2) If the number is less than 1 on which the exponent is operating then the resultant value will be greater than 1.

Example : 0.5 -2 = 1/0.52 = 1/0.25 = 4