Algebra Examples

${(\frac{2^{- 4}}{2^{- 2}})}^{- 1}$

Step 1

Move $2^{- 4}$ to the denominator using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

${(\frac{1}{2^{- 2} \cdot 2^{4}})}^{- 1}$

Step 2

Multiply $2^{- 2}$ by $2^{4}$ by adding the exponents.

Tap for more steps...

Step 2.1

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

${(\frac{1}{2^{- 2 + 4}})}^{- 1}$

Step 2.2

Add $- 2$ and $4$ .

${(\frac{1}{2^{2}})}^{- 1}$

Step 3

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

${(\frac{1}{4})}^{- 1}$

Step 4

Change the sign of the exponent by rewriting the base as its reciprocal.

$4$