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Any value - we'll say "x" - raised to a negative power is equal to one divided by that value to the absolute value of that same power. In other words:
x-y = 1 / (xy)
The easiest way to see why this is true is to think of how you would get to a negative power. Consider:
x4 / x = x3
x3 / x = x2
x2 / x = x1 (or simply "x")
As you can see, each time we divide by x, the the exponent is decreased by one. This holds true no matter how many times you do it:
x1 / x = x0 (which is the same as saying "x / x = 1")
x0 / x = x-1 (which can also be expressed as "1 / x = x-1")
x-1 / x = x-2 (or, (1/x) / x = 1/(x * x) = 1/x2)
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Can you have negative exponents in the denominator?
You can have negative exponents anywhere. When they are in the denominator, they are equivalent to positive exponents in the numerator of a fraction.
How do you change powers with negative exponents to powers with positive exponents?
by doing reciprocal
How do you figure out negative exponents?
They are the reciprocals of the positive exponents. Thus, x-a = 1/xa
How will you simplify expressions with negative exponents to get positive exponents?
A negative exponent becomes positive in the reciprocal. So if you have a number a^x where x is negative, then, a^x = 1/(a^-x) and, since x is negative, -x is positive.
How do you turn negative exponents into positive exponents?
Put the number with the exponent in the denominator of a fraction and take off the negative symbol. The numerator in that fraction should be 1. Example: 8-2 Converts to: 1 --- 82
