SOLUTION: What is (-5) to the negative second power? Please explain.

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Question 246949: What is (-5) to the negative second power? Please explain.
Found 2 solutions by Jeff Gordon, Alan3354:
Answer by Jeff Gordon(65) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When you do scientific notation you multiply the number by itself in this case one time because it is to the 2nd power.

-5X-5

=-25

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What is (-5) to the negative second power? Please explain
Look at it as a fraction:
%28-5%29%5E-2%2F1
Multiply NUM and DEN by (-5)^2
= 1%2F%28-5%29%5E2
= 1/25