Question

How do you simplify `-(3)^-2`?

Answer 1

`-1/9`

Explanation:

Recall that `x^-a=1/x^a,` so

`-3^(-2)=-1/3^2=-1/9`

Note that we don't include the negative when squaring as it's not within any parentheses, indicating that it is independent.

Answer 2

I thinking the best thing to do is: `-(3)^-2 = -1/3^2 = -1/9`

Explanation:

Using the fact with a number in form `x^-1 = 1/x`