asked 4.5k views
16 votes
Simplify {(1/3)^-2 -(1/2)^-2 } / (1/4)^-2

1 Answer

10 votes

Answer:

-20/9

Explanation:

you need to know that terms with negative exponents go into the denominator and then the exponent becomes positive

you also need to remember that, when dividing fractions, you multiply by the reciprocal

example: (
(1)/(5))^-3 = 1/125

{(1/3)^-2 -(1/2)^-2 } / (1/4)^-2

simplify terms, one at a time:

(1/3)^-2 = (1/3)^2 = 1/9

(1/2)^-2 = (1/2)^2 = 1/4

(1/4)^-2 = (1/4)^2 = 1/16

1/9 - 1/4 = 4/36 - 9/36 = -5/36

-5/36 ÷ 1/16 = -5/36 · 16/1 = -20/9

answered
User Tony Park
by
8.6k points

No related questions found

Welcome to Qamnty — a place to ask, share, and grow together. Join our community and get real answers from real people.