Question

How do you simplify `4^-2`?

Answer 1

`1/16`

Explanation:

Anything with a negative exponent is the inverse of it. So for example if I had `2^-2`, I would write it as `1/2^2`.

Now for your question:
`4^-2 = 1/4^2 = 1/16=0.0625`

Answer 2

The answer is `1/16`.

Explanation:

The negative sign in the -2 exponent implies that the number changes sides in a fraction. In other words, the `4^-2` would move to the denominator. It would simplify to `1/4^2`, or `1/16`.