Q5: Simplify the expression.
(- 3)^-5(- 3)^4
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To simplify the expression (-3)^-5 (-3)^4, we can combine the exponents.
Using the rule that (a^m)(a^n) = a^(m+n), we have:
(-3)^-5 (-3)^4 = (-3)^(-5 + 4) = (-3)^-1
To simplify further, we can use the rule that (a^-n) = 1/(a^n):
(-3)^-1 = 1/((-3)^1) = 1/(-3) = -1/3
Therefore, the simplified expression is -1/3.