How do you do exponential expressions without using a calculator?
2^-3

Question

How do you do exponential expressions without using a calculator?
2^-3

jdoe0001 · Answer

$\bf \large a^{-n} = \cfrac{1}{a^n}$

anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much. So 2^-3 would be 1/2^3= 1/6?

jdoe0001 · Answer

sorta, $\bf  2 \times 3 = 6\qquad \qquad  2^3=8$

anonymous · Answer

Oh yeah, duh. What if it was a fraction like $$(1/2)^{-4}$$?

jdoe0001 · Answer

$\bf \left(\cfrac{1}{4}\right)^{-4}\implies \cfrac{1}{\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)^{4}}\implies \cfrac{\frac{1}{1}}{\frac{1^4}{4^4}}\implies \cfrac{1}{1}\times \cfrac{4^4}{1^4}$

jdoe0001 · Answer

hmmm shoot.. I used ... 4 dunno why hehhe, typo I gather, lemme fix that

jdoe0001 · Answer

$\bf \left(\cfrac{1}{2}\right)^{-4}\implies \cfrac{1}{\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{4}}\implies \cfrac{\frac{1}{1}}{\frac{1^4}{2^4}}\implies \cfrac{1}{1}\times \cfrac{2^4}{1^4}$