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How to Rewrite a Fraction With a Negative Exponent

A number or value can be expressed in several different ways. For instance, you can write a number in fraction form or in decimal form. The fraction 1/4 is equal to the decimal number 0.25. Larger numbers can also be reduced to exponent form as exponents mean a number is multiplied by itself a specified number of times. The number 25 can be expresses as 5 squared since 5 times 5 equals 25. When you start introducing negative exponents to fractions, you need to rewrite them to remove the negative sign.

Instructions

    • 1

      Invert the fraction so that the numerator and denominator are switched. For instance, assume you have the fraction 1/(5)^-3. You should invert the fraction, the exponent's base, so that it becomes 5/1, or simply 5.

    • 2

      Turn the negative exponent into a positive exponent. For instance, 5^-3 will now be a 5^3. The whole term would be 5^3/1

    • 3

      Reduce the exponent. Because exponents represent a number that is multiplied by itself, write out the multiplication breakdown or use a calculator to determine the result. For instance, 5^3 equals 5 x 5 x 5. So 5^3 equals 125.

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