Question

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

Answer 1

See the entire simplification process below:

Explanation:

Use this rule of exponents to simplify: `(x^color(red)(a))^color(blue)(b) = x^(color(red)(a) xx color(blue)(b))`

`(x^color(red)(-2))^color(blue)(3) = x^(color(red)(-2) xx color(blue)(3)) = x^-6`

If as part of the simplification process you want to have only positive exponents you can use this rule for exponents: `x^color(red)(a) = 1/x^color(red)(-a)`

`x^color(red)(-6) = 1/x^color(red)(- -6) = 1/x^6`

The simplification is `x^-6` or `1/x^6`