negative exponents

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Mclaughlin: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 131; Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 10:46 am; Thanked: 1 times

by Mclaughlin » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:08 am

what happens when you raise a fraction to a negative exponent? How do you do that? for example

1/5^-2

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:08 am

anju: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 258; Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:15 am; Thanked: 7 times; Followed by:1 members

by anju » Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:11 am

1/5^-2
1/[(1/5)^2]
1/(1/25) = 25

cramya: Legendary Member; Posts: 2467; Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:14 pm; Thanked: 331 times; Followed by:11 members

by cramya » Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:55 pm

You can always reverse the fraction and change the negatibe exp to a positive exponent

1/5 ^ -2 = 5 ^ 2 = 25

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