Algebra 1: Common Core (15th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0133281140
ISBN 13: 978-0-13328-114-9

Chapter 7 - Exponents and Exponential Functions - 7-1 Zero and Negative Exponents - Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises - Page 422: 50

Answer

Negative

Work Step by Step

The fact that -2 is raised to a negative power is insignificant as this only means that -2 is moved to the denominator of the fraction. A negative number is being multiplied by itself an odd number of times. Recall, a negative times a negative is a positive. However, if we multiply this positive by another negative (like we do when we multiply -2 by itself the third time) it becomes negative.
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