Example

Simplifying 424^{-2} and 10310^{-3} Using the Negative Exponent Definition

Apply the definition of a negative exponent to simplify two numerical expressions — one with a single-digit base and one with a two-digit base.

42=1164^{-2} = \frac{1}{16}: The exponent is 2-2, so apply the rule an=1ana^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}: rewrite 424^{-2} as 142\frac{1}{4^2}. Evaluate the power: 42=164^2 = 16. The result is 116\frac{1}{16}.

103=1100010^{-3} = \frac{1}{1000}: The exponent is 3-3, so apply the same rule: rewrite 10310^{-3} as 1103\frac{1}{10^3}. Evaluate the power: 103=100010^3 = 1000. The result is 11000\frac{1}{1000}.

In both parts, the procedure is identical: use the negative exponent definition to move the base into the denominator with a positive exponent, then compute the resulting power. The negative exponent does not make the answer negative — it produces a fraction less than 11.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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