Brush up your maths: answer to negative and zero powers exercise

What do we get if we raise 2 to the powers 0, –1, –2, and –3? What is 3⁴ multiplied by 3^–4? What is 4² multiplied by 4^–3?

2⁰ = 1.

2^–1 = 1/2¹ = 1/2 = 0.5.

2^–2 = 1/2² = 1/4 = 0.25.

2^–3 = 1/2³ = 1/8 = 0.125.

3⁴ × 3^–4 = 3^4–4 = 3⁰ = 1.

4² × 4^–3 = 4^2–3 = 4^–1 = 1/4 = 0.25.

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Last updated: 2 October, 2007.

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