document.write( "Question 1132407: If p = -2, then which of the following is true?\r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A. p^ -17 < p^ -18 < p^ -19
\n" );
document.write( "B. p^ -19 < p^ -17 < p^ -18
\n" );
document.write( "C. p^ -19 < p^ -18 < p^ -17
\n" );
document.write( "D. p^ -17 < p^ -19 < p^ -18
\n" );
document.write( "E. p^ -18 < p^ -19 < p^ -17 \n" );
document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #749443 by greenestamps(13203)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "With p = -2, p^-17 and p^-19 are negative and p^-18 is positive. So p^-18 is largest, so the answer is either B or D. We need to determine whether p^-17 < p^-19 (answer D) or p^-19 < p^-17 (answer B). \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "In absolute value, 1/2^19 is smaller than 1/2^17; so with them both negative -1/2^19 is \"less negative\" than -1/2^17. \n" ); document.write( "So -2^(-17) is less than -2^(-19), and so the answer is D. \n" ); document.write( " |