Thread: I'm confused with some high school level algebra, help please?
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Old July 1st, 2008, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by celestine View Post
I have the answers, but I'm just not sure how to get to that. I'm hoping some one can explain to me.

2)Simplify: 1/-2^-2

-answer: is -4. since the denominator has the power of a negative it rids of the numerator's existance. So what is left is just -2^2.... right? making 4 not - 4, since two negatives is positive... yes? no?


Questions are from http://www.pasadena.edu/studentservi...s/MathSamp.pdf
I can't do most of the questions in the last page. Never took pre cal.
I'll take #2.

Use this rule of exponents:

\frac{1}{a^{-m}}=a^m

\frac{1}{-2^{-2}}=-2^2=-4

Keep in mind that -2^2\neq(-2)^2

Grouping makes a difference here.
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