What Do You Do With a Negative Exponent?

Note:

Do you ever panic when you see a negative number in the exponent of some mathematical expression? Well if you do, then panic no more! This tutorial will help you overcome your fear, and will help you understand what negative exponents actually mean :)

Keywords:

definition
property
exponent
power
negative
inverse
fraction

Background Tutorials

Write and evaluate numerical expressions involving whole-number exponents.
- How Do You Evaluate an Exponent?
  
  Exponents just indicate repeated multiplication. Watch this tutorial to see how you can evaluate an exponent by first writing it in expanded form. Take a look!
Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).
- What is a Variable?
  
  You can't do algebra without working with variables, but variables can be confusing. If you've ever wondered what variables are, then this tutorial is for you!
Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions.
- What are Exponents?
  
  Did you know that another word for 'exponent' is 'power'? To learn the meaning of these words and to see some special cases involving exponents, check out this tutorial!
- What's the Quotient of Powers Rule?
  
  Working with exponents can be lots of fun, as long as you understand how they work. In this tutorial you'll see how exponents add when you divide the same number raised to different exponents!