Help Please. Need somebody to help explain how to simplify expressions.

9. 3^-2
I did this:
1 divided by ( 3 x 3) which i got 1/9 ....

Question

Help Please. Need somebody to help explain how to simplify expressions.

9. 3^-2
 I did this: 
1 divided by ( 3 x 3) which i got 1/9 ....

anonymous · Answer

No like this. |dw:1411664327850:dw|

jacobbenvenutty · Answer

Just do 1 divided by 9

anonymous · Answer

its 0.11111111

jacobbenvenutty · Answer

Example:
5-2
52=1 * 5 * 5 = 25
5-2=1 / 25=0.04

anonymous · Answer

so would 0.1111111 be the simplified expression?

jacobbenvenutty · Answer

Yes

anonymous · Answer

Multiply the base number (3) by itself two times (because the exponent is a 2)

anonymous · Answer

Ohh Ohkay.

jacobbenvenutty · Answer

She did already : )

anonymous · Answer

So to make sure i got this . 
my next one is (-5)^-2 
i did (-5 x -5 x -5) and got -125 so it would 1/-125  and it would -0.008 ??

anonymous · Answer

@Jacobbenvenutty

jacobbenvenutty · Answer

Since it is only to the second power and not the third power it would look like this:
1/(-5 x -5)= 1/25

anonymous · Answer

Oh that's what i meant!

anonymous · Answer

What about this one? |dw:1411665189619:dw|