To determine whether the equation \( 10^{-13} = -10^{-\sqrt{3}} \) is true or false, let's simplify and analyze both sides of the equation using the properties of exponents.
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Left Side: \[ 10^{-13} = \frac{1}{10^{13}} \]
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Right Side: The term \( 10^{-\sqrt{3}} \) can also be rewritten using the Negative Exponent Rule: \[ -10^{-\sqrt{3}} = -\frac{1}{10^{\sqrt{3}}} \]
Now we can rewrite the entire equation: \[ \frac{1}{10^{13}} = -\frac{1}{10^{\sqrt{3}}} \]
Next, analyzing both sides:
- The left side \( \frac{1}{10^{13}} \) is a positive value (since the base 10 raised to any positive power is positive).
- The right side \( -\frac{1}{10^{\sqrt{3}}} \) is a negative value (since we have a negative sign in front of the fraction).
Since a positive number cannot equal a negative number, the equation \( 10^{-13} = -10^{-\sqrt{3}} \) is false.
Therefore, the correct response is: False, because a positive number (left side) cannot equal a negative number (right side).