Negative exponents are essentially the inverse of the base elevated to the corresponding positive exponent. For instance, a^-n is the same as 1/a^n. In simpler terms, a negative exponent reveals the number of times one needs to divide 1 by the base, instead of multiplying it. The rules applied to these negative exponents are similar to those used for positive exponents.
| Topic | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| None | Simplify the expression \(5x^{-2}y^{-3}\) | Rewrite the negative exponents as fractions. The expression becomes \(\frac{5}{x^2y^3}\) |