Question:
$\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-5}$ is equal to
(a) $\left(\frac{-2}{3}\right)^{5}$
(b) $\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)^{5}$
(c) $\frac{2 x-5}{3}$
(d) $\frac{2}{3 \times 5}$
Solution:
(b) $\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)^{5}$
Rearrange (2/3)−5 to get a positive exponent.
$\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-5}=\frac{1}{\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{5}} \quad\left(a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^{n}}\right)$
$=\frac{1}{\frac{2^{5}}{3^{5}}} \quad\left\{\left(\frac{a}{b}\right)^{n}=\frac{a^{n}}{b^{n}}\right\}$
$=\frac{3^{5}}{2^{5}}$
$=\left(\frac{3}{2}\right)^{5}$