How do you simplify #(3a)^-3# and write it using only positive exponents?

1 Answer
Jan 24, 2017

It would be #1/((3a)^3)#

Explanation:

Two things to note here:

A negative exponent always means the power can be written with a positive exponent by moving that power to the other side of a quotient (a fraction). So, the #(3a)^(-3)# becomes the denominator of a fraction (or the divisor in a quotient if would you rather think of it that way).

Second, since the brackets are placed around the entire #3a# monomial, this is the base to which the exponent applies, and not just the #a# part.