Math Playground
Algebra

Negative exponents

x⁻¹ is 1/x. Negatives in the exponent flip the base over.

A negative exponent means: take the reciprocal.

Rule
x⁻ⁿ = 1/xⁿ
Try it

2⁻³

1/2³ = 1/8.

Negative exponents flip the base over the fraction bar.