Basically, the idea is For exponents, you want it to follow ordinary rules, such as
2^2 * 2^3 = 2^(2+3)=2^5
because that is how multiplcation works. In order for this rule to work in regards to negative exponents, negative exponents are given the effect of doing repeated division to invert the normal process of repeated multiplication. So Then,
2^4 * 2^(-2) = 2^2 = 4
Which is equivilents to thinking about it as
2^4/2^2 = 2^2 = 4
For the same reason, an exponent to the 0 power is 1.
2^2 * 2^(-2) = 2^0 = 2^2/2^2 = 1
if a number is ever to the negative power, all you do is take the number to the other side of the denoninator and change the negative power to a postive one.
in this case you have (2/1)^-3. change it to (1/2^3). this is an identity. they are the same. this is the same as (1/2)^3 also.