Question

sorry... i know this is a lame question but... to write an expression as a positive exponent should i just change the negative exponent to a positive one?
for example..

7^-2 would just be 7^2
right?

Answer 1

You would move it to the denominator to make the exponent positive:
\[a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n}\rightarrow 7^{-2}=\frac{1}{7^2}\]

Answer 2

Oh okay so basically you just put it under 1 with the positive exponent?

Answer 3

You would move it to the denominator to make the exponent positive:
\[a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n}\rightarrow 7^{-2}=\frac{1}{7^2}\]

Answer 4

yeah but sometime you end up with a reversed scenario such as:
\[\frac{1}{5^{-3}}\] in this case you would move it to the numerator to make it positive
\[\frac{1}{5^{-3}}\rightarrow 5^3\]

Answer 5

ah cool thanks :D but i have another question XD...
what if for example you have...

ab^-2c
or something like
x^-2y^-3?

i have similar problems further along but figured id ask now x]

Answer 6

Is the first one \[(ab)^{-2c}, or, ab^{-2c}\]

Answer 7

its \[ab ^{-2}c\] and \[x ^{-2}y ^{-3}\]sorry forgot about the equation button

Answer 8

in the case of \[ab^{-2c}\]
only b is raised to the negative exponent of -2c, so you would move b to the denominator\[ab^{-2c}=\frac{a}{b^{2c}}\]
in the case of \[x^{-2}y^{-3}\]
both x and y are raised to a negative exponent, so you would move both of them to the denominator\[x^{-2}y^{-3}=\frac{1}{x^2y^3}\]

Answer 9

well the c isnt part of the b^-2 exponent its like b^-2 and c alone

Answer 10

oh, sorry.... well then b will move to the denominator bc it carries a negative exponent\[ab^{-2}c=\frac{ac}{b^2}\]

Answer 11

oh ok i get it now thanks for your help =]

Answer 12

no problem