Question

How do you write `3^-5` using only positive exponents?

Answer 1

`3^-5 = 1/3^5`

Explanation:

Recall: law of indices: `x^-m = 1/x^m`

`3^-5 = 1/3^5`

The index is now positive.

We could carry on and show that it simplifies to `1/243`, but this would usually not be necessary.