2007-09-09 15:16:09 · 6 answers · asked by wendy f 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
A negative exponent just means the reciprocal. Like this:
a^(-b) = 1/(a^b)
So
2^(-2)=1/(2^2) = 1/4
Kewl??
Doug
2007-09-09 15:25:21 · answer #1 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1/2^2
2007-09-09 22:21:00 · answer #2 · answered by bruin1144 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
for n.0, 2^-n means 1/(2^n)
so 2^-2 = 1/(2^2) = 1/4
2007-09-09 22:24:05 · answer #3 · answered by vlee1225 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should know the following relation COLD
2^-2 = 1 /(2^2)
This is the "reciprocal rule"
2007-09-09 22:20:44 · answer #4 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to cancel out the negative you put the number under 1
ex 2^-2 =1/2^2 or 1/4
ex 3^-2=1/3^2 or 1/9
i have no idea why this works thuogh
2007-09-09 22:20:57 · answer #5 · answered by karen f 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2^-2= 1/(2^2)= 1/4= 0.25
2007-09-09 22:23:51 · answer #6 · answered by joel m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋