They can be written as reciprocals with positive exponents.
For example, 5-7 = (1/5)7
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why the exponents can not be negative
Yes, except for zero. Numbers larger than 1 have positive exponents, and numbers between 0 and 1 have negative exponents. Negative numbers would just have a '-' in front.
When multiplying numbers with exponents, you add the exponents.
property of negative exponents
Positive exponents: an = a*a*a*...*a where there are n (>0) lots of a. Negative exponents: a-n = 1/(a*a*a*...*a) where there are n (>0) lots of a.