How do you simplify #(-5)^-2#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-04-05T06:17:55

It simplifies to #1/25# or #0.04#.

Use the definition of a negative exponent:

#x^color(blue)(-m)=1/x^color(blue)m#

Here's the expression:

#color(white)=(-5)^color(blue)(-2)#

#=1/(-5)^color(blue)2#

#=1/(-5*-5)#

#=1/(color(red)cancelcolor(black)-5*color(red)cancelcolor(black)-5)#

#=1/(5*5)#

#=1/25#