My friend told me that negative exponents "sometimes" inverse the fraction (i.e  X-2 +2 / 5 = 5/ x-2 +2.) I don't understand why it only applies "sometimes", he told me "it's a notation issue that no one knows what to do with" . Now I'm confused on what to do when I see a negative exponent.

Holt Mcdougal Larson Pre-algebra: Student Edition 2012
1st Edition
ISBN:9780547587776
Author:HOLT MCDOUGAL
Publisher:HOLT MCDOUGAL
Chapter4: Factors, Fractions, And Exponents
Section4.7: Scientific Notation
Problem 38E
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My friend told me that negative exponents "sometimes" inverse the fraction (i.e  X-2 +2 / 5 = 5/ x-2 +2.) I don't understand why it only applies "sometimes", he told me "it's a notation issue that no one knows what to do with" . Now I'm confused on what to do when I see a negative exponent. 

 

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