Question

Use the rules of exponents to simplify the expressions.

(-2) to the power of -5
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(-2) to the power of -10

Answer 1

Using the negative exponent rule you move -2^-10 to the numerator and reverse the sign of the exponent to get:

(-2^-5 * -2^10) / -1

When you multiply the same number with different powers add the exponents.

Now you have -2^-5 + 10 / -1

Simplify: -2^5 / -1

Dividing a negative by a negative becomes positive:

Now you have 2^5, which equals 32.