Simplify the following expression, and write your answer using only positive exponents.

(-2r^-16)^-3

(The answer is not -8r^48)

1 answer

Since:

a ⁻ ⁿ = 1 / aⁿ

(- 2 r ⁻ ¹⁶ ) ⁻ ³ = 1 / ( - 2 r ⁻ ¹⁶ )³ = 1 / [ ( - 2 )³ ∙ ( r ⁻ ¹⁶ )³ ] = 1 / ( - 8 r ⁻ ⁴⁸ ) =

( 1 / - 8 ) ∙ 1 / r ⁻ ⁴⁸ = - 1 / 8 r ⁴⁸