How do you simplify -5^-3−5−3?

1 Answer
Daniel L.
Oct 29, 2015

-5^-3=-1/125−5−3=−1125

Explanation:

In the expression -5^-3−5−3 there are 2 operations: power and multiplication by (-1)(−1). According to the order of operations we have to calculate the power first remembering, that if the exponent is negative we have to write the expression as a positive power of the reciprocal of the base:

(a/b)^-c=(b/a)^c(ab)−c=(ba)c

So we get: [-(1/5^3)][−(153)]
Finally we can calculate the power 5^353 and write the final answer:

-5^-3=-(1/5^3)=-1/125−5−3=−(153)=−1125

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