Question

How do you simplify `(a ^ { 3} ) ^ { - 3}`?

Answer 1

This becomes `1/a^9`.

Explanation:

By a rule of exponents, when an exponent is raised to an exponent, the two exponents should be multiplied together. Therefore, we multiply the two exponents in the problem.

`a^(3*-3)`

This can be simplified to the following.

`a^-9`

When a number or variable is raised to a negative number, it is best to follow this formula.

`b^-c=1/b^c`

Applying this formula to our problems, we see the following is true.

`a^-9=1/a^9`

Without knowing the value of a, this cannot be simplified any further.