By addition. Exponents are multiplied by adding them together. Example:
22 = 4 = (2x2)
23 = 8= (2x2x2)
If we multiply 22 x 23 we get (2x2) x (2x2x2) = 4 x 8 = 32
or 22 x 23 = 25 = (2x2) x (2x2x2) = (2x2x2x2x2) = 25 = 32
Same with negative exponents: (A negative exponent indicates a reciprocal (1/x))
2-2 = 1/4 (1/2 x 1/2)
2-3 = 1/8 (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2)
2-2 x 2-3 = 1/4 x 1/8 = 1/32
2-2 x 2-3 = (1/2 x 1/2) x (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2) = (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2) = 2(-2)+(-3) = 2-5 = 32
Hope this helps.
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You can have negative exponents anywhere. When they are in the denominator, they are equivalent to positive exponents in the numerator of a fraction.
Multiply
You reverse the sign of the power and multiply by adding exponents. Example 10 to the 7 divided by 10 to the negative 6 = 10 to the 13
by doing reciprocal
They are the reciprocals of the positive exponents. Thus, x-a = 1/xa