How do you simplify integers with negative exponents?

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PJSKVocaloid_39
Honestly, this is the most confusing thing in pre-algebra. Everything else is easy but this.

HELP
Urban_Person

Hm

Urban_Person

Long time no see, bro

teri-udon

Do you mean combining like terms, or are you talkin' actual simplfication?

PJSKVocaloid_39
Just actual simplification
teri-udon

It's just like normal exponents, but negative is division instead. 2^3 would be 2x2x2, 2^-3 would be 2/2/2.

ZOE-EOZ

You reciprocate it like:

2^(-3) = 1/2^3 = 1/8

PJSKVocaloid_39
Example: Simplify 10^-4

What are the steps in simplifying this? I only know how to simplify integers/numbers with positive exponents.
PJSKVocaloid_39
Oh! Thank you!
PJSKVocaloid_39
So that means the answer won’t be negative?
ZOE-EOZ

10^-4 = 1/10^4
= 1/10000

= 0.0001

teri-udon
PJSKVocaloid_39 wrote:
So that means the answer won’t be negative?

Exactly. However, if your integer(the number before the exponent) is negative, follow the rule for multiplying negatives.

PJSKVocaloid_39
Ohhh! I finally get it! Tysm!!!
teri-udon

🎉

Concerned-potato
I’m into literature, not mathematics. Now run along.
PJSKVocaloid_39
I’ll be making a new thread that is related to math but not our lesson: Why can’t I calculate the first version of pi: the one that starts as 3.14159…?