SOLUTION: x^-2=4

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Question 79772This question is from textbook Elementary and Intermediate Algebra
: x^-2=4 This question is from textbook Elementary and Intermediate Algebra

Answer by tutor_paul(519) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x%5E%28-2%29=4
Having something raised to a negative exponent may look weird, however it is really just another way of writing one over that number raised to a positive exponent, like this:
x%5E%28-2%29=1%2F%28x%5E2%29
Now you can rewrite the problem like this:
1%2F%28x%5E2%29=4
Get the x^2 term by itself on one side of the equation:
1=4x%5E2
x%5E2=1%2F4
Now, take the square root of both sides (note you have 2 answers)
highlight%28x=%2B1%2F2%29 and highlight%28x=-1%2F2%29
Good Luck,
tutor_paul@yahoo.com