What is 3^-2 equal to?

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Study for the Algebra 1 Honors End-of-Course Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is 3^-2 equal to?

Explanation:
When an exponent is negative, you take the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive exponent. So 3^-2 means 1 divided by 3^2. Since 3^2 is 9, you get 1/9. This matches the listed value. The other options don’t fit this rule: 9 would come from 3^2, not a negative exponent; -1/9 would require a negative sign that isn’t produced by the exponent rule here; and 1/3 would be 3^-1, not -2.

When an exponent is negative, you take the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive exponent. So 3^-2 means 1 divided by 3^2. Since 3^2 is 9, you get 1/9. This matches the listed value. The other options don’t fit this rule: 9 would come from 3^2, not a negative exponent; -1/9 would require a negative sign that isn’t produced by the exponent rule here; and 1/3 would be 3^-1, not -2.

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