How do you simplify #(- 15^ { - 6} ) ^ { 3}#?

1 Answer
Sep 29, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, use this rule for exponents to eliminate the outer exponent:

#(x^color(red)(a))^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) xx color(blue)(b))#

#(-15^color(red)(-6))^color(blue)(3) = -15^(color(red)(-6) xx color(blue)(3)) = -15^-18#

Now, use this rule of exponents to eliminate the negative exponent:

#x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)#

#-15^color(red)(-18) = -1/15^color(red)(- -18) = -1/15^18#