SOLUTION: Describe the following pattern: (-1)1=? ;(-1)-2=? ;(-1)-3=? ;(-1)-4=?. Determine what (-1)-100 would be. Justify your thinking. The numbers outside the parentheses are exponents.

Algebra ->  Sequences-and-series -> SOLUTION: Describe the following pattern: (-1)1=? ;(-1)-2=? ;(-1)-3=? ;(-1)-4=?. Determine what (-1)-100 would be. Justify your thinking. The numbers outside the parentheses are exponents.      Log On


   

Question 892438: Describe the following pattern: (-1)1=? ;(-1)-2=? ;(-1)-3=? ;(-1)-4=?. Determine what (-1)-100 would be. Justify your thinking. The numbers outside the parentheses are exponents.
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%28-1%29%5E%28-1%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5E1=-1
%28-1%29%5E%28-2%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5E2=1
%28-1%29%5E%28-3%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5E3=-1
%28-1%29%5E%28-4%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5E4=1
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.
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%28-1%29%5E%28-n%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5En=1 if n is even
%28-1%29%5E%28-n%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5En=-1 if n is odd.
So since n=100 is even,
%28-1%29%5E%28-100%29=1%2F%28-1%29%5E100=1