Negative Exponents - Algebra Step by Step

A negative exponent means take the reciprocal: x^(-n) = 1/x^n. A coefficient stays in the numerator: c * x^(-n) = c/x^n. Negative exponents never appear in a simplified answer.

negative-exponents Move the factor with the negative exponent to the denominator and make the exponent positive. The coefficient stays in the numerator unchanged.

Example

Rewrite negative exponents as reciprocal factors with positive exponents.

highlighted = computed this step

Step 1 — Negative exponent

Set up the expression.

x^{ -3 }

Step 2 — Rewrite reciprocal

Move x^-3 to the denominator as 1/x^3.

\frac{ 1 }{x^{ \hl{3} }}

Step 3 — Coefficient example

Set up the expression.

4 x^{ -2 }

Step 4 — Keep coefficient

Keep 4 on top and move x^-2 below as 4/x^2.

\frac{ \hl{4} }{x^{ \hl{2} }}