As in...what is a complete explanation as to why 5^-3=1/125 is defined that way. Thanks! :)
2007-06-03 11:44:12 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
it's 1/(5^3) = 1/125
2007-06-03 11:46:24 · answer #1 · answered by Aidas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1/125=5-3
2015-12-14 09:30:30 · answer #2 · answered by Evelyn L 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whenever you have a number to a negative power (x^-y), it's always equal to a fraction in which the numerator is 1, and the denominator is the same exponent but the power is positive.
So,
x^-y = 1/x^y
In your case, 5^-3 is equal to 1/5^3. Since 5^3 is 125, that's why 5^-3 is 1/125
Hope that helps!
2007-06-03 12:05:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because 5^-3 is 1/(5^3) or 1/125
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2007-06-03 11:47:51 · answer #4 · answered by Robert L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Becuase the exponent is a -3 so instead of the whole number 125 it is 1/125. I hoped I helped out
2007-06-03 12:04:17 · answer #5 · answered by Jimmy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5^(-3) = 1/(5^3) = 1/125
The negative power implies that it is the reciprocal of the term, hence 1/...
2007-06-03 11:46:38 · answer #6 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By definition of multiplication, z^a times z^b = z^(a+b). This holds for any real a and b, including (of course) negative integers.
2007-06-03 11:48:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋