Negative Exponents Law

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

Simplify (evaluate):

5^-2

• -10

• 1/25

• 1/(5)²

• -1/10

Rewrite using a positive exponent.
g^-7

• ¹/_g⁷

• g⁷

• ¹/_g^-7

• -g⁷

Rewrite using a positive exponent.
w^-13

• -w¹³

• ¹/_w¹³

• ¹/_w^-13

• w¹³

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

• negative

• reciprocal

• 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.

x^-3

• 1/x³

• 1/x^-3

• 3x

• 1/3x

Which of the following are equivalent to the expression 6^-3

• 1/6³

• 6³

• 1/216

• 216

Make this negative exponent positive.
9^-3

• 9³

• 1/9^-3

• 1/9³

• 729

Rewrite using a positive exponent.

w^-13

• -w¹³

• ¹/_w¹³

• ¹/_w^-13

• w¹³