X & A are counting numbers. This means that a is a number that comes after x just like 2 comes after 1: a > x
Let's assume that x = 1 & a = 2
![x^(-a)\Rightarrow1^(-2)=(1)/(1^2)=1](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/uk1dbe4evbavq6otlk2c7knyofozwwx3cc.png)
If x = 2 & a = 3, we have:
![x^(-a)\Rightarrow2^(-3)=(1)/(2^3)=(1)/(8)](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/7k9vsovvm0sboqyuqwieox9xo07ufewds0.png)
If x = 3 & a = 4, we have:
![x^(-a)\Rightarrow3^(-4)=(1)/(3^4)=(1)/(81)](https://img.qammunity.org/2023/formulas/mathematics/college/ktql94enxuorb9rwe88avruiohfvwkojfn.png)
Except for the first scenario where x = 1 & a = 2 where we got x ^(-a) equal to 1, for every other subsequent value, we will obtain values less than 1