SOLUTION: simplify expression. write answer with a positive exponet only (-p)^-21

Question 212895: simplify expression. write answer with a positive exponet only
(-p)^-21
Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You have to know that a negative exponent means that you have a FRACTION whose numerator is 1 as in this example:

Likewise,

Now, if the quantity is negative, you have

Finally, since this is a negative number raised to an odd power, the answer is negative.

So,

If you need an informal explanation of Laws of Exponents, together with examples, exercises and answers, please see my own website. Do a "Bing" search for my last name "Rapalje" and look for "Rapalje Homepage" near the top of the search list. Click on the link "Basic, Intermediate and College Algebra: One Step at a Time" near the top of my Homepage. Select "Basic Algebra", and look at the end of "Chapter 2" for the topic "Negative Exponents". Also, check out my "MATH IN LIVING COLOR" pages on this topic to see solutions to a lot of these problems, IN COLOR of course!

R^2

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired
Seminole Community College
Altamonte Springs Campus
Florida
RELATED QUESTIONS
Simplify the expression. Write the answer with positive exponents only.... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

Simplify. Write each answer with positive exponents only. (answered by richwmiller)

Simplify the following expression and write answer with positive exponents only.... (answered by stanbon)

Simplify the expression. Write your answer using only positive exponents. (4g)^-3 (answered by lynnlo,swincher4391)

Write the expression with positive exponents only. Then simplify, if possible.... (answered by Alan3354)

simplify the following expression and write the answer with positive exponents only.... (answered by stanbon)

Use the properties of exponents to simplify the expression. Write the answer with... (answered by Fombitz)

Simplify the expression using the rules of exponents. Write the answer with positive... (answered by lynnlo,Alan3354)

Use the quotient property of exponents to simplify this expression, write the answer with (answered by solver91311)