3^-2 is the reciprocal of 3^2, yielding 1/9. This fraction is less than 1. Negative exponents denote taking the reciprocal of the corresponding positive exponent, confirming that the value of 3^-2 is indeed less than 1.
The expression 3^-2 is equivalent to the reciprocal of 3^2, which is 1/9. This value is less than 1, not greater.
When a positive base is raised to a negative exponent, it signifies taking the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent. In this case, 3^2 is 9, and the reciprocal of 9 is 1/9.
To clarify, any positive number raised to a negative exponent will result in a fraction where the numerator is 1, and the denominator is the positive number raised to the positive exponent. Therefore, the value of 3^-2 is indeed less than 1, specifically 1/9.