What is 1/2 to the negative fourth power?

#(1/2)^-4#

1 Answer
Apr 20, 2018

#2^4=16#

Explanation:

Recall that #(a/b)^x=a^x/b^x#, so

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

#1^-4=1#, as #1# raised to any power is #1.#

So, we get

#1/2^-4.# Recall that you can get rid of a negative exponent in the denominator by moving it to the numerator, making it a positive exponent, and vice versa. IE, #1/a^-x=a^x#

So,

#1/2^-4=2^4=16#