Question

How do you simplify `(2^-3)^4`?

Answer 1

`(2^-3)^4= color(green)(1/2^12`

Explanation:

In exponents, `color(blue)((a^m)^n = a^(m*n)`

hence `(2^-3)^4 = 2^(-3*4) = 2^-12`

Also, `color(blue)(a^-m = 1/a^m`

Hence `2^-12 = color(green)(1/2^12`