How do you simplify #(-4/5)^2#?

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1 Answer
Nov 18, 2016

The simplified answer is #16/25#

Explanation:

#(- 4/5)^2# can be rewritten as #(- 4/5) * (- 4/5)# because an exponent of #2# indicates the base #(- 4/5)# is multiplied by itself twice.

A negative number multiplied by a negative number is positive.

Multiply the numerators straight across, then multiply the denominators straight across.

#(- 4/5) * (- 4/5) = (4*4)/(5*5)=16/25#