Final answer:
The expression x^-2/5 is equivalent to 1/(x^(2/5)), which means taking the fifth root of x squared and then finding its reciprocal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression x^-2/5 can be understood by breaking down its components. A negative exponent indicates that the base, in this case x, should be placed in the denominator. Furthermore, a fractional exponent, like 2/5, represents a root. Specifically, the denominator of the fraction indicates the type of root, so in this case, it is the fifth root. Therefore, x^-2/5 is equivalent to 1/(x^(2/5)), which can also be written as 1/(√xx), where the line denotes the fifth root of x squared. In other words, the expression is equivalent to taking the fifth root of x squared and then taking the reciprocal of the result.