Calculating and working with negative exponents

Algebra I: Calculating and working with negative exponents

This is a free lesson from our course in Algebra I


	Here you'll learn how to work with negative exponents. One of the important rule for a negative exponent is: (a)^-m = 1/a^m For example, 3^-3 is same as 1 over 3³. The lesson also explains how to use the rule when the value of a is in fraction. For example, (2/5)^-3. A negative exponent means how many times to divide by the number. For example: 8^-1 = 1 � 8 = 1/8 = 0.125 Or many divides: Example: 5^-3 = ((1 � 5) � 5) � 5 = 0.008 But that can be done an easier way: 5^-3 could also be calculated like: 1 � (5 � 5 � 5) = 1/5³ = 1/125 = 0.008. That last example showed an easier way to handle negative exponents: A^-n = 1 / aⁿ

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