Question

How do you evaluate `b^2c^-1` for `b=8` and `c=-4`?

Answer 1

`-16`

Explanation:

Using the following:

• `x^1 = x`

• `x^-n = 1/x^n`

Substituting `8` for `b` and `-4` for `c` gives us

`b^2c^(-1) = 8^2(-4)^(-1)`

`=64(1/(-4))`

`=-64/4`

`=-16`