Question

How do you simplify `(x^-4)^5` and write it using only positive exponents?

Answer 1

`1/x^20`

Explanation:

Recall that:
(i) `x^-m=1/x^m` and
(ii) `(x^m)^n = x^(m xx n)`

`(x^-4)^5 = (1/x^4)^5` Applying (i) above

`(1/x^4)^5 = 1^5/x^(4 xx 5) = 1/x^20` Applying (ii) above