document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=9348>Question 9348</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I need some refreshing. I have a problem figuring out some of the rules and properties of negative exponents. As an example:  (-3y^-1)^-1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I'm not concerned with the answer, as much as I am on how and why do do the steps to solve it.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #5077 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=longjonsilver><B>longjonsilver(2297)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=longjonsilver><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=longjonsilver><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=5077\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> by definition, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E%28-m%29+=+1%2Fa%5Em ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E%28-m%29+=+1%2Fa%5Em\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x%5E%28-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x%5E%28-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4%2Fx%5E3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4%2Fx%5E3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%284x%29%5E%28-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%284x%29%5E%28-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F%284x%29%5E3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F%284x%29%5E3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "so, for yours... <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-3y%5E-1%29%5E-1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-3y%5E-1%29%5E-1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, we get\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-3%2Fy%29%5E%28-1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-3%2Fy%29%5E%28-1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and then this becomes -y/3. The negative sign can remain on top...it doesn't matter as the 3 is -ve and the y is +ve, swapping them in the fraction, we still have a + and -... making a -ve.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "remember, you can always take a numerical example to test... <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%284%2F3%29%5E%28-1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%284%2F3%29%5E%28-1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > should be 3/4, which it is on the calculator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Does that help?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "jon.<BR>\n" );
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