Indices law - law 2

$a^-n=1/a^n$

A negative is divide

To remember this put simple numbers in. ie Try simple numbers you know first.

$10^-2=1/10^2=1/(10times10)=1/100=0.01$

$8^-1=1/8=0.125$

$8^-2=1/8^2=1/(8times8)=1/64=0.0156$

Also try other examples you know like starting with $10^2$ and remove $1$ from the power and understand the answer you get:

Remove 1 from the power and the answer gets smaller and smaller

Examples

1. $5^-3$ is the same as $1/5^3$

2. $x^-3$ is the same as $1/x^3$