How do you make a fraction using negative exponents?

Answer 1

i have this final tomorrow!

so for example, if the problem is 4-1 [which is the same as (4/1)-1] you find the reciprocal which in this case is 1/4

because it's to the -1st power the numbers dont change because you are multiplying them by one, but here's another example

4-3 = (4/1)-3

here, the first thing you would do is multiply the numerator and denomanator by 3

(12/1)-

and because there is a negative left over, you still need to find the reciprocal.

so the answer is 1/12