Definition

Negative Exponent

A negative exponent indicates that the expression should be rewritten as the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive power. If nn is an integer and aeq0a eq 0, then:

an=1ana^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}

This result emerges naturally from the Quotient Property for Exponents. Consider x2x5\frac{x^2}{x^5}: subtracting the exponents gives x25=x3x^{2-5} = x^{-3}, while dividing out common factors yields 1x3\frac{1}{x^3}. Since both approaches simplify the same fraction, it follows that x3=1x3x^{-3} = \frac{1}{x^3}.

In practical terms, a negative exponent instructs you to take the reciprocal of the base and then change the sign of the exponent to positive. An expression containing negative exponents is not considered to be in simplest form. To fully simplify, rewrite every negative exponent as a positive one — for example, the simplified form of x3x^{-3} is 1x3\frac{1}{x^3}.

Image 0

0

1

Updated 2026-05-01

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.6 Polynomials - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Ch.9 Roots and Radicals - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Prealgebra

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.5 Polynomials and Polynomial Functions - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.8 Roots and Radicals - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Related
Learn After