working with exponents: simplify (-2^-2 y^-1)^-3

[shortoneinpa]

This is a simple problem but i can not for the life of me figure out how the answer was obtained.

its working with exponents, simplify.

(-2^-2 y^-1)^-3

my answer came to -8^6 y^3

but my book says -64y^3

i don't know what I'm doing wrong...please help

 

[wjm11]

Re: someone please help

its working with exponents, simplify.

(-2^-2 y^-1)^-3

my answer came to -8^6 y^3

but my book says -64y^3

You got the “y” part right. Let’s look at the rest of it:

(-2^-2)^-3 = (-1/4)^-3 = (-4)^3 = -64
or
(-2^-2)^-3 = -2^6 = -64

Hope that helps.

 

[shortoneinpa]

Re: someone please help

ugh, thank you...i don't even know why i couldn't get that. i must have had a brain cramp.