Negative Positive Exponents

7^-2

• 49

• 10/49

• -49

• 1/49

Rewrite using a positive exponent.
w^-13

• -w¹³

• ¹/_w¹³

• ¹/_w^-13

• w¹³

Simplify x^-7

• -7

• -7x

• 1/x⁷

• -1/x⁷

Rewrite using a positive exponent.
(-5)^-4

• (-5)⁴

• ¹/_(-5)^-4

• ¹/_(-5)⁴

• -625

• -6
• 8
• -8
• 1/8

When you see a negative exponent... (check ALL that apply)

• ... if it is in the numerator, flip it to the denominator and make the exponent positive

• ... if it is in the numerator, keep it there and make the exponent positive

• ... if it is in the denominator, keep it there and make the exponent positive

• ... if it is in the denominator, flip it to the numerator and make the exponent positive

It is not proper to write answers with negative exponents. How do we "take care of" negative exponents?

• Write no solution if there is a negative exponent

• Just leave the negative exponent. It is mathematically okay.

UNDERSTANDING
If the exponent is a negative number...

• you will get a large number

• you will get a small number

Type your final answer in the fraction form. No equal sign please.

Mathematical Equivalence

ON

According to exponent rules, if you have a negative exponent, you use the ____________________.

• negative

• reciprocal

• positive