SOLUTION: When rewriting an exponential expression with a negative exponent and a positive base to an expression containing only a positive exponent, does the sign of the base change? And wh

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Question 410879: When rewriting an exponential expression with a negative exponent and a positive base to an expression containing only a positive exponent, does the sign of the base change? And why not
Found 2 solutions by richard1234, stanbon:
Answer by richard1234(7193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The sign of the base does not change. If we have an exponent a%5E%28-b%29 this can be written as 1%2F%28a%5Eb%29 because 1%2F%28a%5Eb%29+=+%28a%5E0%29%2F%28a%5Eb%29+=+a%5E%280-b%29+=+a%5E%28-b%29.

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When rewriting an exponential expression with a negative exponent and a positive base to an expression containing only a positive exponent, does the sign of the base change? And why not
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Example
y = 3^(-x)
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Answer to your question.
No; the negative in the exponent means "invert the base".
It does not mean "take the negative of the base".
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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