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how do we evaluate a fraction being raised to negative exponents ?

example: (a/b)^-n     <--- how do we change the exponent power to a positive number? I need the steps, :D

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

Anonymous :P

 Sep 18, 2014

Best Answer 

 #3
avatar+118654 
+8

Try looking through this post - it will help

http://web2.0calc.com/questions/indices-especially-negative-indices

 Sep 18, 2014
 #1
avatar+129840 
+8

Just "flip" the fraction over and change the exponent to a positive...to see why this is so, consider......

(2/3)-3 =  1/(2/3)3 = 1/(8/27) = (27/8)  = (3/2)3...........voila !!!!

 

 Sep 18, 2014
 #2
avatar+26388 
+8

 how do we evaluate a fraction being raised to negative exponents ?

$$\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}
\\\\=
\dfrac{a^{-n}} {b^{-n}}
\\\\=
\dfrac{a^{-n}} {1}
*
\dfrac{1} {b^{-n}}
\\\\=
\dfrac{1} {a^n}
*
\dfrac{b^n } {1}
\\\\=
\dfrac{b^n} {a^n}
\\\\=
\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^n
\\\\
\boxed{\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^n }$$

 Sep 18, 2014
 #3
avatar+118654 
+8
Best Answer

Try looking through this post - it will help

http://web2.0calc.com/questions/indices-especially-negative-indices

Melody Sep 18, 2014

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