Negative Integer Exponents Practice

Question

Math 8 Q1 (Pre-Algebra) / Exponent Rules

Apply the Property of Negative Integer Exponents to generate an expression equivalent to 5^−9 4^−12 with positive exponents only.(1 point)

Answer 1

To generate an expression with positive exponents only, we can use the property that states:
a^(-b) = 1/a^b

Applying this property to 5^(-9) and 4^(-12), we get:

5^(-9) = 1/5^9
4^(-12) = 1/4^12

Substituting these values back into the original expression, we have:

5^(-9) 4^(-12) = (1/5^9) (1/4^12)

To simplify further, we can multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators:

(1/5^9) (1/4^12) = 1/(5^9 * 4^12)

Therefore, the expression equivalent to 5^(-9) 4^(-12) with positive exponents only is:

1/(5^9 * 4^12)