Question

Simplify only using positive exponents...
(4^-1 + 2^-1)^2

Answer 1

\[(\frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{2})^2\]
\[=(\frac{3}{4})^2=\frac{9}{16}\]

Answer 2

you need to know that
\[4^{-1}=\frac{1}{4}\] because
\[b^{-n}=\frac{1}{b^n}\]