Properties of Negative Exponents

A factor that contains a negative exponent may be rewritten on the other side of the division bar by changing the sign of the exponent.

Property	Example 1	Example 2

A fraction raised to a negative exponent may be rewritten as the reciprocal of the fraction raised to the corresponding positive exponent.

Property	Example 1	Example 2

Here, x ≠ 0 and y ≠ 0.

Example 1

Simplify and write using only positive exponents:

Solution

Use this property:

Example 2

Simplify and write using only positive exponents:

Solution

Use this property:
Use the Power of a Quotient Property.
Simplify.