Question

How do you simplify `(1/2)^-2`?

Answer 1

`4`

Explanation:

Recalling that `(a/b)^x=a^x/b^x,`

`(1/2)^-2=1^-2/2^-2`

`1^-2=1` as `1` raised to any power is just `1.` So, we have

`1/2^-2`

Recalling that `a^-x=1/a^x,` we get

`1/2^-2=1/(1/2^2)=2^2=4`