Understanding Negative Exponents

The video tutorial explains how to handle negative exponents by visualizing them as being on the wrong floor, requiring a switch between the numerator and denominator. It covers simplifying expressions with both negative and positive exponents, including those involving variables. The tutorial provides multiple methods for handling negative exponents in fractions, emphasizing the importance of understanding exponent rules and simplification techniques.

What does a negative exponent indicate about the position of a term in a fraction?

• It is on the correct floor.

• It is on the wrong floor.

• It should be squared.

• It should be cubed.

How do you simplify an expression with a negative exponent?

• Add the exponent to the base.

• Subtract the exponent from the base.

• Multiply the exponent by 2.

• Move the term to the opposite part of the fraction.

When simplifying expressions with like bases, what operation is performed on the exponents?

• Subtract the exponents.

• Multiply the exponents.

• Add the exponents.

• Divide the exponents.

In the expression 4^(-5) / 4^(-3), what is the result after simplifying?

• 1/4^(-2)

• 4^(-2)

• 1/4^2

• 4^2

What is the result of subtracting exponents in the expression 4^(-5) - (-3)?

• 4^(-2)

• 4^(8)

• 4^(-8)

• 4^(2)

What is an alternative method to simplify expressions with negative exponents?

• Divide the exponents.

• Multiply the exponents.

• Move terms to the opposite part of the fraction and cancel like terms.

• Add the exponents directly.

How do you handle a fraction raised to a negative exponent?

• Square the fraction.

• Cube the fraction.

• Flip the fraction and change the exponent to positive.

• Leave the fraction as is.

In the expression (3x^2 / 15x^(-3))^(-1), what is the first step to simplify?

• Multiply the exponents.

• Flip the fraction.

• Add the exponents.

• Subtract the exponents.

What happens to x^(-3) when simplifying the expression (3x^2 / 15x^(-3))^(-1)?

• It stays in the numerator.

• It is cubed.

• It moves to the denominator and becomes positive.

• It is squared.

What is the final simplified form of the expression (3x^2 / 15x^(-3))^(-1)?

• 15x^5

• 3x^5

• 5/x^5

• 5x^5