How do you calculate 6 to the power of -3 - it's part of my sons homework and I'm not sure how to teach him to do it

Question

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

6 to the power of 3 = 6*6*6 = 36*6 = 216

vishweshshrimali5 · Answer

$$6^{-3} = \frac{1}{6}*\frac{1}{6}*\frac{1}{6}$$

vishweshshrimali5 · Answer

$$= \frac{1}{216}$$

anonymous · Answer

Thank you!!!!  This  helps so much!!!!

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

if the exponent is negative, then flip the fraction


So 6^(-3) = 1/(6^3) = 1/(6*6*6) = 1/216

anonymous · Answer

so as a decimal how would it be written? 0.216?

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

is the exponent positive or negative?

anonymous · Answer

for example 7 to the power of -2 is the answer 0.49?

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

ok, the exponent is negative


7 to the power of -2 = 7^(-2) = 1/(7^2) = 1/49 = 0.0204081632653


I used a calculator to find that last part

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

6 to the power -3 = 6^(-3) = 1/(6^3) = 1/216 = 0.00462962962962

anonymous · Answer

The question on his home work is simplify each power - and it is 7 to the power of -2 - so I guess the answer would be 1/7*1/7 right?

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

1/7*1/7 = 1/(7*7) = 1/49


So the answer is 1/49

jim_thompson5910 · Answer

I'd leave it at that and avoid the decimal part of the answer

anonymous · Answer

yeah I think you're right about the decimal part

anonymous · Answer

thank you