Evaluating the Inner Exponent

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 117 views

Understanding the Problem

The given expression $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ involves the use of exponents and negative numbers. To evaluate this expression, we need to follow the order of operations, which is Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).

Evaluating the Inner Exponent

The innermost operation is $14^0$ . According to the rules of exponents, any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1. Therefore, $14^0 = 1$ .

Substituting the Value

Now that we have evaluated the inner exponent, we can substitute its value into the original expression: $\left(-1\right)^{-2}$ .

Evaluating the Outer Exponent

The outer exponent is $-2$ . According to the rules of exponents, a negative exponent indicates that we need to take the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent. Therefore, $\left(-1\right)^{-2} = \frac{1}{\left(-1\right)^2}$ .

Simplifying the Expression

The denominator of the expression is $\left(-1\right)^2$ . According to the rules of exponents, any non-zero number raised to an even power is equal to 1. Therefore, $\left(-1\right)^2 = 1$ .

Final Evaluation

Now that we have simplified the expression, we can evaluate it: $\frac{1}{1} = 1$ .

Conclusion

The value of $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ is 1.

Common Mistakes

Some students may mistakenly evaluate the expression as $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2} = \left(1\right)^{-2} = 1$ . However, this is incorrect because the negative sign in the original expression is not evaluated until the end.
Some students may mistakenly evaluate the expression as $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2} = \left(-1\right)^{-2} = -1$ . However, this is incorrect because the negative sign in the original expression is not evaluated until the end.

Final Answer

The final answer is $\boxed{1}$ .

Step-by-Step Solution

Evaluate the inner exponent: $14^0 = 1$
Substitute the value into the original expression: $\left(-1\right)^{-2}$
Evaluate the outer exponent: $\left(-1\right)^{-2} = \frac{1}{\left(-1\right)^2}$
Simplify the expression: $\frac{1}{1} = 1$

Key Takeaways

When evaluating expressions with exponents, it's essential to follow the order of operations.
Negative exponents indicate that we need to take the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent.
Any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1.
Any non-zero number raised to an even power is equal to 1.

Real-World Applications

Understanding the rules of exponents is crucial in various fields, such as physics, engineering, and computer science.
The concept of negative exponents is used in many mathematical models, including those used in finance and economics.

Practice Problems

Evaluate the expression $\left(2^3\right)^{-2}$ .
Evaluate the expression $\left(-3^0\right)^{-1}$ .
Evaluate the expression $\left(4^2\right)^{-3}$ .

Solutions to Practice Problems

$\left(2^3\right)^{-2} = \frac{1}{\left(2^3\right)^2} = \frac{1}{64}$
$\left(-3^0\right)^{-1} = \frac{1}{\left(-3^0\right)} = \frac{1}{1} = 1$
$\left(4^2\right)^{-3} = \frac{1}{\left(4^2\right)^3} = \frac{1}{4096}$

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the value of $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ ?

A: The value of $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ is 1.

Q: Why is the value of $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ equal to 1?

A: The value of $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ is equal to 1 because $14^0 = 1$ and $\left(-1\right)^{-2} = \frac{1}{\left(-1\right)^2} = \frac{1}{1} = 1$ .

Q: What is the rule for evaluating expressions with exponents?

A: The rule for evaluating expressions with exponents is to follow the order of operations, which is Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).

Q: What is the rule for negative exponents?

A: The rule for negative exponents is that a negative exponent indicates that we need to take the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent.

Q: What is the value of $14^0$ ?

A: The value of $14^0$ is 1.

Q: What is the value of $\left(-1\right)^{-2}$ ?

A: The value of $\left(-1\right)^{-2}$ is 1.

Q: Can you provide an example of a real-world application of the concept of negative exponents?

A: Yes, the concept of negative exponents is used in many mathematical models, including those used in finance and economics.

Q: Can you provide a practice problem to help reinforce understanding of the concept of negative exponents?

A: Yes, here is a practice problem: Evaluate the expression $\left(2^3\right)^{-2}$ .

Q: What is the value of $\left(2^3\right)^{-2}$ ?

A: The value of $\left(2^3\right)^{-2}$ is $\frac{1}{\left(2^3\right)^2} = \frac{1}{64}$ .

Q: Can you provide a solution to the practice problem $\left(-3^0\right)^{-1}$ ?

A: Yes, the value of $\left(-3^0\right)^{-1}$ is $\frac{1}{\left(-3^0\right)} = \frac{1}{1} = 1$ .

Q: Can you provide a solution to the practice problem $\left(4^2\right)^{-3}$ ?

A: Yes, the value of $\left(4^2\right)^{-3}$ is $\frac{1}{\left(4^2\right)^3} = \frac{1}{4096}$ .

Common Misconceptions

Some students may mistakenly evaluate the expression $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ as $\left(1\right)^{-2} = 1$ . However, this is incorrect because the negative sign in the original expression is not evaluated until the end.
Some students may mistakenly evaluate the expression $\left(-14^0\right)^{-2}$ as $\left(-1\right)^{-2} = -1$ . However, this is incorrect because the negative sign in the original expression is not evaluated until the end.