How do you simplify #-2^-1+5^-2#?
1 Answer
Apr 3, 2018
Explanation:
You just need to know how negative exponents work: they are the same as positive exponents, except for the fact that you have to "flip" the number before (i.e. swap numerator and denominator, where you can reed integers as divided by
For example, if you have
flip the number:
apply the positive power:
While for
flip the number:
apply the positive power:
Thus, we have
#-2^(-1) + 5^(-2) = -1/2+1/25 = (-25+2)/50 = -23/50