Which value equals 2 to the power of negative three?

Sharpen your skills for the Praxis Middle School Mathematics Test. Prepare with a variety of questions, hints, and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which value equals 2 to the power of negative three?

Explanation:
A negative exponent means you take the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive exponent. So 2 to the power of negative three becomes 1 divided by 2 to the power of 3. Since 2^3 = 8, that gives 1/8. The sign stays positive because the base is positive, and a negative exponent doesn’t flip the sign. The other options would correspond to 2^3 (which is 8) or a negative version, which isn’t what a negative exponent produces.

A negative exponent means you take the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive exponent. So 2 to the power of negative three becomes 1 divided by 2 to the power of 3. Since 2^3 = 8, that gives 1/8. The sign stays positive because the base is positive, and a negative exponent doesn’t flip the sign. The other options would correspond to 2^3 (which is 8) or a negative version, which isn’t what a negative exponent produces.

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