How do you simplify #-(3)^-2#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-10T21:09:24

#-1/9#

Recall that #x^-a=1/x^a,# so

#-3^(-2)=-1/3^2=-1/9#

Note that we don't include the negative when squaring as it's not within any parentheses, indicating that it is independent.

Answer 2 · 2018-05-10T21:13:09

I thinking the best thing to do is: #-(3)^-2 = -1/3^2 = -1/9#

Using the fact with a number in form #x^-1 = 1/x#