Question

What is 1/2 to the negative fourth power?

`(1/2)^-4`

Answer 1

`2^4=16`

Explanation:

Recall that `(a/b)^x=a^x/b^x`, so

`(1/2)^-4=1^-4/2^-4`

`1^-4=1`, as `1` raised to any power is `1.`

So, we get

`1/2^-4.` Recall that you can get rid of a negative exponent in the denominator by moving it to the numerator, making it a positive exponent, and vice versa. IE, `1/a^-x=a^x`

So,

`1/2^-4=2^4=16`