Question

If 5^-2 = 1/5^2, why does the neg exponent change to a positive??? (Its been a very long time since ive been in any math class)

Answer 1

Because you put it on the bottom of a fraction basically its just the definition.

Answer 2

k. thx

Answer 3

Think of it this way:
32 = 2^5 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
16 = 2^ 4 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
8 = 2^3 = 2 x 2 x 2
4 = 2^2 = 2 x 2
2 = 2^1 = 2
1 = 2^0 = 1
Look at the number on left, 32, 16, 8, 4, ... To go from one line to the next you divide by two. The middle number, 2^5, 2^4, has an exponent 1 less than the line before. So do it again for the next few steps:
1/2 = 2^(-1) = 1/2
1/4 = 2^(-2) = 1/(2 x 2)
etc.

Answer 4

It's what DarkGhost said, just the definition, but the definition of negative exponents was created on purpose to make it work.