algebra

(1/2)^-2 =

1 / (1/2) ² =

1 / (1/4) =

(1/1) / (1/4) =

(1/1) * (4/1) =

4

mathgirl303:

(1/2)^-2

Hi,
I tackle neg indicies a little differently from CPhill,


Write 1/2 as a upright fraction. Keep the brackets and the neg indice.

Now everything that is raised to a negative power is swapped to the other side of the equal sign - in this case that IS everything. Then just change the neg to a positive and you are finished.
Easy peazy.

140412 negative indices.JPG

Here are some more examples to look at.
http://web2.0calc.com/questions/negative-exponents-negative-indices