Question

How do you simplify `(- 1/5)^-2 + (-2)^-2`?

Answer 1

`1/(-1/5)^2+1/(-2)^2=25 1/4`

Explanation:

As `a^(-n)=1/a^n`, `(-1/5)^(-2)+(-2)^(-2)` can be written as

`1/(-1/5)^2+1/(-2)^2`

= `1/((-1)^2/(5)^2)+1/4`

= `1/(1/25)+1/4`

= `1xx25/1+1/4`

= `25 1/4`