How do you express #(-7)^-1# as a positive exponent?

1 Answer
Apr 8, 2017

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

Use this rule of exponents to eliminate the negative exponent:

#x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)#

#(-7)^color(red)(-1) = 1/((-7)^color(red)(- -1)) = 1/(-7)^1#

You can continue to simplify by using this rule of exponents:

#a^color(red)(1) = a#

#1/(-7)^color(red)(1) = 1/(-7) = -1/7#