Question

If n-2 = 1/16, then n could be which of the following?

Answer 1

Answer:

Option B and E are correct

n could be 4 and -4

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the following:

$n^{-2} = \frac{1}{16}$

we know that:

$a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}$

Then;

$\frac{1}{n^2}=\frac{1}{16}$

By cross multiply we have;

$16=n^2$

or

$n^2=16$

⇒$n = \pm\sqrt{16}$

Simplify:

$n =\pm 4$

⇒n = -4 and n = 4

Therefore, n could be 4 and -4

Answer 2

The answer is E.4

The equation is: $n ^{-2}= \frac{1}{16}$

Since $x^{-a}= \frac{1}{ x^{a} }$, then $n^{-2} = \frac{1}{n^{2} }$

Therefore, the equation is:
$\frac{1}{ n^{2} } = \frac{1}{16}$
⇒ $n^{2} = 16$
    $n= \sqrt{16}=4$