SOLUTION: Just taking algebra again after 21 years. Have a simple question. How do I solve (3/5)^-2? Do I multiply 3/5 twice and it is positive because of the two negatives? That answer

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Question 86220: Just taking algebra again after 21 years. Have a simple question. How do I solve (3/5)^-2? Do I multiply 3/5 twice and it is positive because of the two negatives? That answer would be 9/25??
Found 2 solutions by ptaylor, sofiyacherni:
Answer by ptaylor(2198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your answer would be correct if the exponent was +2 instead of -2.
%283%2F5%29%5E-2=
1%2F%283%2F5%29%5E2=
1%2F%289%2F25%29 Multiply numerator and denominator by 25/9.(note: %2825%2F9%29%2F%2825%2F9%29=1
%2825%2F9%29%2F%28%289%2F25%29%2825%2F9%29%29=
%2825%2F9%29%2F1=
25%2F9-----------------------------ans
Hope this helps-----ptaylor

Answer by sofiyacherni(99) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
no that isn't correct, you are intrepreting negative powers incorrectly
first, forget about the negative because it confuses you :)
so you have %283%2F5%29%5E2=9%2F25 you solved that and you are half way there
now, here is how you should interpret negative exponents a%5E%28-m%29=1%2Fa%5Em thus you take 1 divided by the number you got "by ignoring the minus" so
1%2F%289%2F25%29 which is the same as just flip floping your fraction so your answer is 25%2F9
this is just a suggestion but this would be a lot easier if you had a tutor, one on one really helps if you've been away from math for quite some time :)
good luck!!!