If a base has a negative exponent, how can you make the exponent POSITIVE?

Question

You need to move the base and any constants associated with it to the denominator.

You need to add the exponents together to create a positive exponent.

You need to move the numerator to the denominator and the denominator to the numerator.

You need to move the entire base and exponent pair to the OPPOSITE side of the fraction bar.

Answer 1

To make a base with a negative exponent positive, the correct approach is:

You need to move the base and any constants associated with it to the denominator.

When you have a term like \( a^{-n} \), moving it to the opposite side of the fraction bar (i.e., changing its position from the numerator to the denominator or vice versa) effectively changes the sign of the exponent to positive. For example, \( a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n} \).