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For example, 10 to the power -5 means the same as 1 divided by (10 to the power 5). In general, you can interpret negative exponents this way, with reciprocals.

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What do you have to do to evaluate a negative exponent?

Find the reciprocal of the positive exponent. Thus, x-a = 1/xa


Why doesn't a negative exponent make the answer negative?

A negative exponent indicates the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive exponent. For example, ( a^{-n} ) is equivalent to ( \frac{1}{a^n} ), which does not inherently change the sign of the base. The base itself determines the sign; thus, if the base is positive, the result will be positive, and if it's negative, the result will be negative, regardless of the exponent's sign.


How do you predict whether a power will be negative or positive?

To predict whether a power will be negative or positive, examine the base and the exponent. If the base is positive, any exponent—whether positive or negative—will yield a positive result. Conversely, if the base is negative, an even exponent results in a positive value, while an odd exponent produces a negative value. Thus, the sign of the power depends on both the sign of the base and whether the exponent is odd or even.


How do you solve negative integral exponents?

A negative exponent is simply the reciprocal of the positive exponent. So simply remove the negative sign and find the reciprocal. Thus, for example, 5-3 = 1/53 = 1/125


What should you do to make a negative exponent positive in a reciprocal way?

An expression with a negative exponent is equivalent to the positive exponent of its reciprocal. Thus, 3-4 = 1/34 or, equivalently, (1/3)4 or (3/4)-2 = (4/3)2


Where is the negative exponent key on a calculator?

negative 4 with negative 3 as an exponent


Can a polynomial have a negative exponent?

Polynomials cannot have negative exponent.


What does the term negative exponent mean in math?

the exponent is a negative


What does a negative exponent mean?

"Dose" is a measured portion of a medicine. I am not aware of any exponents that have anything to do with measured quantities of medication! A negative exponent is simply the reciprocal of the corresponding positive exponent. Thus x^(-a) = (1/x)^a for non-zero x.


How do you raise anumber to a negative exponent?

A number to a negative exponent is the inverse of the number to the positive exponent. That is, x-a = 1/xa


What is x to the power minus 0.5?

A negative exponent means the same as a positive exponent in the denominator. Thus, x-0.5 = 1/x0.5. This, in turn, is equivalent to 1/(square root of x).


What does it mean when an exponent is a negative number?

A negative exponent is the reciprocal of the corresponding positive exponent. 102 = 100 10-2 = 1/100