9514 1404 393
Answer:
4² = 16
Step-by-step explanation:
The applicable rule of exponents is ...
1/a^-b = a^b
So, ...
[tex]\dfrac{1}{4^{-2}}=\boxed{4^2 = 16}[/tex]
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Additional comment
If you were to evaluate this using the Order of Operations, you would evaluate the exponent first:
1/4^-2 = 1/(1/16)
Then, you would do the division.
1/(1/16) = 16
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We sometimes find it convenient to manipulate exponential terms to the form with the smallest positive exponents before we begin the evaluation.
