Answer:
The expression "3^-1" represents the inverse or reciprocal of 3. In other words, it is asking "what number, when multiplied by 3, gives 1?" The answer to this question is 1/3, because:
3 x (1/3) = 1
Therefore, 3^-1 is equivalent to 1/3.
This piece of information is commonly used in mathematics, particularly in algebra and calculus. For example, in algebra, when solving equations involving fractions, it may be necessary to use the fact that a number raised to a negative exponent is the same as its reciprocal.
In calculus, the concept of inverse functions involves taking the reciprocal of a function's output and using that as the input, so understanding the relationship between a number and its reciprocal is essential.
Hope this helps!