how does 1/2^-5 equal 32?

2009-03-30 6:42 am

i dont know how it equals 32 >_<
can anyone help me find out how it equals 32?

回答 (5)

2009-03-30 6:49 am

✔ 最佳答案

Noted that
a^(-y) = 1/a^y and
1/a^(-y) = a^(--y) = a^y

1/(2^-5)
= 2^(--5)
= 2^5
= 32

👍 0 👎 0

2009-03-30 8:19 am

1
---------
2^(-5)

2^5
------
1

32
----
1

32

👍 0 👎 0

2009-03-30 6:53 am

1/(2^-5)
= (2^-5)^-1 . . . . . -> [ 1/x = x^-1 ]
= 2^(-5)(-1) . . . . . -> [ (a^x)^y = a^xy ]
= 2^5
= 32

So that's it, hope you'll understand!

👍 0 👎 0

2009-03-30 6:49 am

When you have a negative power, you have to take the reciprocal of the fraction, so 1/2 ^ -5 is actually 2/1 ^ 5 = 2^ 5 = 32 hope that helps

👍 0 👎 0

2009-03-30 6:45 am

1/2^-5 = (1/2)^-5 = 2^5 = 32
------
Ideas: When you change the sign of the power, you flip the base.

👍 0 👎 0