document.write( "Question 208395: in () 3x squared and outside the () an exponent of -2 \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #157617 by jsmallt9(3758)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The key to working with negative exponents is to understand the basic equation:
\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E%28-n%29+=+%28x%5En%29%5E%28-1%29+=+%28x%5En%2F1%29%5E-1+=+1%2F%28x%5En%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "In short, a negative exponent means \"reciprocal of\". In other words, flip the expression upside down and remove the minus sign on the exponent.

\n" ); document.write( "So your expression
\n" ); document.write( "\"%283x%29%5E-2\" means the reciprocal of \"%283x%29%5E2\"
\n" ); document.write( "So we can rewrite \"%283x%29%5E-2\" as \"1%2F%283x%29%5E2\"
\n" ); document.write( "Now all we need to do is simplify:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%283x%29%5E-2+=+1%2F%283x%29%5E2+=+1%2F%289x%5E2%29\"
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