Answer
$\frac{5}{16}$
Work Step by Step
The negative exponent rule states that for every nonzero number $a$ and nonzero integer $n$, $a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n}$ We use this rule to rewrite the expression and simplify: $$2^{-4}+4^{-1}=\frac{1}{2^4}+\frac{1}{4}=\frac{1}{16}+\frac{4}{16}=\frac{5}{16}$$
