Question

My Last problem :)
Difference between x^4 and x^-4
Picture of problem attached below! :)
@Johnbc

Answer 1

When you have exponents you already know that
\[x^4 = x \times x \times x \times x \]
But what about when the exponent is negative?
Well that means we must multiply the inverse of our expression in the negative exponent or..
\[x^{-4} = \frac{ 1 }{ x^4 } = (\frac{ 1 }{ x } \times \frac{ 1 }{ x } \times \frac{ 1 }{ x } \times \frac{ 1 }{ x })\]

Answer 2

Does the order matter though?
-If not, then that means the answer is C.

Answer 3

if \(\frac{a}{b}\frac{c}{d}=1\), then \(\frac{a}{b},\frac{c}{d}\) are reciprocals of each other.

Answer 4

C is correct

Answer 5

Correct!

Answer 6

Yay! I'm done ; thank you both ! :)

Answer 7

note: you will be hard pressed to find a fraction whos reciprocal is not your own reciprocal.

Answer 8

bah you know what I mean....

Answer 9

It matters when you are doing the Order of Operations
1. Parenthesis
2. Exponents
3. Multiplication/Division
4. Addition/Subtraction

Answer 10

but both Tommy & Sally are correct , right?

Answer 11

I only put the parenthesis there to help make the image look clearer and right they are both correct

Answer 12

^Thanks .

Answer 13

My pleasure!