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Deriving the Quotient to a Negative Exponent Property Using \left(\frac{3}{4} ight)^{-2}

Derive the rule for raising a fraction to a negative exponent by simplifying the expression \left(\frac{3}{4} ight)^{-2} step-by-step using the definition of a negative exponent.

Start with \left(\frac{3}{4} ight)^{-2}.

  1. Apply the definition of a negative exponent. Since an=1ana^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}, rewrite the expression as \frac{1}{\left(\frac{3}{4} ight)^2}.
  2. Simplify the denominator. Evaluate the square: \left(\frac{3}{4} ight)^2 = \frac{9}{16}. The expression becomes 1916\frac{1}{\frac{9}{16}}.
  3. Simplify the complex fraction. Dividing by a fraction is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal: 1169=1691 \cdot \frac{16}{9} = \frac{16}{9}.
  4. Rewrite as a power. The fraction 169\frac{16}{9} can be written as the square of 43\frac{4}{3}: \left(\frac{4}{3} ight)^2.

Therefore, \left(\frac{3}{4} ight)^{-2} = \left(\frac{4}{3} ight)^2. This derivation demonstrates that a fraction raised to a negative exponent is equivalent to the reciprocal of that fraction raised to the corresponding positive exponent, leading directly to the Quotient to a Negative Power Property.

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Updated 2026-04-29

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