SOLUTION: I am really confused with negative exponents. I tried to work the problem. Please check and correct if needed. Thanks in advance! 64 1/2/16^-2 =16384. I made 64 1/2 into a w

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: I am really confused with negative exponents. I tried to work the problem. Please check and correct if needed. Thanks in advance! 64 1/2/16^-2 =16384. I made 64 1/2 into a w      Log On


   

Question 121941: I am really confused with negative exponents. I tried to work the problem. Please check and correct if needed. Thanks in advance!
64 1/2/16^-2
=16384.
I made 64 1/2 into a whole number and then divided by 16^-2.
Found 2 solutions by Earlsdon, stanbon:
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I too am confused!
How did you make 64 1/2 into a whole number?
Do you mean that you made 64 1/2 (a mixed number) into an improper fraction?
Let's look at the problem again:
(64 1/2)/16^(-2) Now, 1%2F16%5E%28-2%29+=+16%5E2, so...
You can rewrite this as:
64.5%2F16%5E%28-2%29+=+%2864.5%2916%5E2 = %2864.5%29%28256%29+=+16512

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
64 1/2/16^-2
-------------
The "-" in the exponent means "invert".
Since the 16^2 is in the denomiator,
the "-" forces it up into the numerator.
You get:
64.5*16^2 = 16512
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Cheers,
Stan H.