How do I calculate negative powers?

The power of a number indicates how many times that number must be multiplied by itself. If the power is a negative, this means that the number (or the base) is a fraction, with the base as a denominator. For example, 10-1 = 1/10. For more difficult numbers, e.g. 8-5, this is the same as saying 1/85, or 1/40.

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Answered by Molly N. Maths tutor

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