document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=72504>Question 72504</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I do not want the answer to this problem straight away. I would like to see how it works, the process and what is happening in that process. Is saht acceptable?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-2)^-5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Our instructor handed out worksheets and this is one of the problems on it. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #51822 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=51822\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> (-2)^-5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The exponent contains two instruction:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1. raise to the 5th power<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2. invert<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You may perform them in any order.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you invert first you get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "[1/(-2)]^5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then raise to the 5th power to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/-32<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you raise to the 5th power first you get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(-32)^-1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then invert to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1/-32<BR>\n" );
document.write( "------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Either way is correct:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );