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Simplifying x6x^{-6} and (u4)3(u^4)^{-3} Using the Negative Exponent Definition

Apply the negative exponent definition to two expressions with variable bases — one involving a simple variable and one involving a power raised to a negative power. All variables are assumed to be nonzero.

x6=1x6x^{-6} = \frac{1}{x^6}: The base is the variable xx and the exponent is 6-6. Apply the definition an=1ana^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}: rewrite x6x^{-6} as 1x6\frac{1}{x^6}. The procedure is identical to the one used with numerical bases — the negative exponent moves the variable into the denominator and changes the exponent to positive.

(u4)3=1u12(u^4)^{-3} = \frac{1}{u^{12}}: The base is the expression u4u^4 and the outer exponent is 3-3. First apply the negative exponent definition: (u4)3=1(u4)3(u^4)^{-3} = \frac{1}{(u^4)^3}. Then apply the Power Property for Exponents to simplify the denominator — multiply the exponents: (u4)3=u43=u12(u^4)^3 = u^{4 \cdot 3} = u^{12}. The result is 1u12\frac{1}{u^{12}}.

Part (a) confirms that the negative exponent definition works the same way for variables as it does for numbers. Part (b) shows how negative exponents and the Power Property combine: the negative exponent moves the expression to the denominator, and then the Power Property simplifies the power of a power.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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