Question

Use the rules of exponents to evaluate or simplify.write without negative exponents. 1/4^-2=?

Answer 1

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Answer:

  4² = 16

Step-by-step explanation:

The applicable rule of exponents is ...

  1/a^-b = a^b

So, ...

 $\dfrac{1}{4^{-2}}=\boxed{4^2 = 16}$

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Additional comment

If you were to evaluate this using the Order of Operations, you would evaluate the exponent first:

  1/4^-2 = 1/(1/16)

Then, you would do the division.

 1/(1/16) = 16

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We sometimes find it convenient to manipulate exponential terms to the form with the smallest positive exponents before we begin the evaluation.