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My daughters homework?
Is this correct?
(-4)^{-5} = 1/ -4^{5}
Hope this is written out correctly, tried to post an image but it did not work
I have no idea what she is talking about so any help would be most appreciated
Lionel
3 Answers
- ?Lv 75 years agoFavorite Answer
Technically/mathematically yes, because the answer is the same either way (Because you are raising a negative to an ODD power) but the clearest is [note parentheses] 1/(-4)^5 ... = -1/1024 (Jeremy is okay, too).
example: -3^4 = -81 (as per the rules of operation, remembered by PEDMAS) ... whereas (-3)^4 = +81
P S I use any and all DELIMITERS ... ( ) { } [ ] > < " " for clarity [computers only use parentheses]
- Anonymous5 years ago
-4^-5 = 1/-4^5 We don't need the goofy symbols because there is no ambiguity. When we do need them, we only use parentheses.
A minus power means the inverse, nothing more. That is all this statement says.
