Chapter 7.9, Problem 4WE

To determine

To calculate: The simplified form of the expression $2^{-2}$ .

Answer to Problem 4WE

The simplified form of the expression $2^{-2}$ is $\frac{1}{4}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The expression $2^{-2}$ .

Formula used:

The expression $a^{-n}$ is expressed as $\frac{1}{a^n}$ where a is a nonzero real number and n is a positive integer.

Calculation:

Consider the expression $2^{-2}$ .

Recall that expression $a^{-n}$ is expressed as $\frac{1}{a^n}$ where a is a nonzero real number and n is a positive integer.

Apply it,

  $\begin{array}{c}{2}^{-2}=\frac{1}{2^2}\\ =\frac{1}{4}\end{array}$

Thus, the simplified form of the expression $2^{-2}$ is $\frac{1}{4}$ .