Calculate 2^(-5): Solving Negative Exponent Expression

Question

$2^{-5}=\text{?}$

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solve

00:03 According to laws of exponents, any number(A) to the power of(N)

00:06 equals 1 divided by the number(A) to the power of(-N)

00:10 Let's apply to the question

00:13 The number 2 becomes half and the power(-5) becomes -(-5)

00:18 Negative times negative becomes positive so the power is 5

00:21 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

We begin by using the power rule of negative exponents.

$a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n}$ We then apply it to the problem:

$2^{-5}=\frac{1}{2^5}=\frac{1}{32}$ We can therefore deduce that the correct answer is option A.

Answer

$\frac{1}{32}$

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