Question

Why does 1/25 = 2^-5 ?

Answer 1

and can you explain this rule to me?

Answer 2

because 2 is raised to a negative power.

Answer 3

that doesn't really help ..

Answer 4

thats one of the exponent rules. read your book or use google!

Answer 5

a negative exponent is the reciprocal of the positive
so x^-2 = 1/(x^2) = 1/5
and 5^-2 = 1/25

Answer 6

^-----This

Answer 7

yea it a rule, learn it, live it, love it!

Answer 8

thank you very much

Answer 9

You will see it again when learning derivatives!

Answer 10

just try to have fun with it!

Answer 11

i can't. math is the death of me :(

Answer 12

no, it just patterns and rules. Like a language.

Answer 13

wait! wouldn't it equal 5^ -2?

Answer 14

5^ -2 = 1/5^2 = 1/25

Answer 15

is that a yes..

Answer 16

yes

Answer 17

so if the rule was 1/a^m = a^ -m......a and m can switch basically?

Answer 18

let me be clear x^-b = 1/(x^b), yes?

Answer 19

so like 1/25 = 1/5^2 = 5^-2 WHICH IS ALSO 2^ -5 so the "a" and "m" switched

Answer 20

yes...

Answer 21

but am i right...what i said?

Answer 22

clear now? Thats the rule, among many :)

Answer 23

please respond to what i said before...

Answer 24

about a and m switching ?? lemme look at it.

Answer 25

can the two values switch like that....like 5^ -2 = 2^ -5

Answer 26

am i right to say that

Answer 27

wait what?

Answer 28

"1/25 = 1/5^2 = 5^-2 WHICH IS ALSO 2^ -5 " this is not true
2^-5 = 1/( 2^5) = 1/32- I misstyped.

Answer 29

okay. do u mind giving me a few of these to practice...like quizzing me i guess lol

Answer 30

sure 3^-3

Answer 31

ummm oh god

Answer 32

lets see..

Answer 33

1/3^3

Answer 34

ugh im wrong

Answer 35

so far so good- and what is 1/(3^3)?

Answer 36

that would be 3^-3

Answer 37

yes, thats true too but what is 3^3?

Answer 38

27

Answer 39

so 1/(3^3) = 1/27 right?

Answer 40

can u give me one where a and m are different numbers

Answer 41

2^-3

Answer 42

okay so this would be 1/2^3

Answer 43

so 1/8

Answer 44

:-)

Answer 45

yes! so you seem to understand.

Answer 46

can u do one with very big numbers? well like somewhere in the 200s-300s?

Answer 47

sure 222^-300

Answer 48

uh oh.... umm lemme think

Answer 49

1/222^300

Answer 50

okay i think i got this now ! just gotta memorize that rule! :D

Answer 51

are you gonna be online bc i might have more questions :)

Answer 52

you might want a calculator at this point,

The rule x^-n = 1/(x^n) is true for ALL number

Answer 53

I will be around until Im not :)

Answer 54

we are not allowed to use calculators on our quiz :(

Answer 55

yea so 222^-300 might not be on the quiz :P

btw the answer is :

1/80517880668393229147886068496149401306972582290411328168978510994785579115588583551827976204875447471474879862267202705113127441091878902354853813041890222152198455342144439084242078428238138714265508683035791505554760104867426467157715278054403172295031898472730484002817659144331717312161700756934610875579137993642195693033512692240606656314618045823043091894260503678798685779973005364739112564184555335918720320643432850355542239025011335644126445607944039212224942030284232383674702362906793619267527992062005620717473752544451951685766644998888627609736993334783701457851056538472011058453524224265800042617872532780902329250444294802910839828000675334422137717517355426310014485465179583860965376

Answer 56

study hard.

Answer 57

oh my goodness. are you like a math teacher or something. you are so good at this stuff

Answer 58

no, Im a student, like you.

Answer 59

lol i am a junior in high school and i still do not understand this stuff

Answer 60

practice, practice, practice.

Answer 61

ugh. i hate math so much. do you know much about logs

Answer 62

some what is the deal?

Answer 63

hold on give me a minute

Answer 64

you should open another question- there a lot of smart people here.

Answer 65

okay i will. thank you for all your help! hope to talk to you more sometime on the webbiste! :) - Olivia

Answer 66

sure, I will keep an eye out for your questions :)