Final answer:
A number raised to a negative exponent is never negative.
Step-by-step explanation:
In mathematics, a number raised to a negative exponent is never negative. It is important to note that a negative exponent indicates the reciprocal or the inverse of the number. When a number is raised to a negative exponent, it is equivalent to taking the reciprocal of the number and raising it to the positive exponent. For example, 2^-3 is equivalent to 1/(2^3) = 1/8, which is a positive value.