Rewriting an expression as an equivalent power with a negative exponent.

[itsprobablysteven]

I believe this is pre-calculus, but correct me if I'm wrong.

I need to change 27/125 to an equivalent power with a negative exponent.
Please don't solve this for me if you could give a step by step how to with a different but similar expression that would make me extremely happy!

(I already know how to rewrite expressions like 1/49 or 1/17 as an equivalent power with a negative exponent but I'm having troubles with the higher numerator expressions.)


Thank you in advance! Ill try to reply to comments!
- Steven

 

[stapel]

I need to change 27/125 to an equivalent power with a negative exponent.

All you've posted is a fraction. There are no exponents, so there's nothing to "convert"...?

Kindly please reply with clarification. Thank you!

(P.S. For lessons on exponents, try here and here.)

 

[itsprobablysteven]

All you've posted is a fraction. There are no exponents, so there's nothing to "convert"...?

Kindly please reply with clarification. Thank you!

(P.S. For lessons on exponents, try here and here.)

Say you have 1/49 you could rewrite it as 49^-1, now how would you do that with 27/125?

 

[ksdhart]

I'd begin by thinking about what I know about negative exponents. x^-1 can be rewritten as 1/x. So, that means that x^-1 is the reciprocal of x. And this can be generalized to say that x^-n is the reciprocal of xⁿ. Keeping that in mind, how could you rewrite the expression (a/b)ⁿ with a negative exponent? Hopefully that's enough of a hint to help you on your way.