How to Calculate With a Power That Is a Negative Exponent
- 1). Simplify or solve a negative exponent using the negative exponent rule, which states that x^-a = 1 / (x^a) or, if the problem begins as an inverse, 1 / (x^-a) = x^a.
- 2). Simplify and add 3^-2 + (1 / (2^-2)). Write the first exponential term in the form of an inverse to eliminate the negative exponent: 3^-2 = (1 / (3^2)). Write the second term out of inverse form to eliminate the negative exponent: (1 / (2^-2)) = 2^2. Rewrite the addition problem: (1 / (3^2)) + 2^2.
- 3). Simplify by applying the exponents: (1/9) + 4. Convert the 4 to fractional form with a common denominator to perform the addition: (1/9) + (36 / 9) = (37 / 9) or 4.1 (rounded).
