Question

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

Answer 1

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`