Question

Simplify

(2^-5 x 2^-6)1/2
Help I'm confused!

Answer 1

Is that 1/2 outside also an exponent? If so,

(2^-5 * 2^-6)^(1/2)
(2^-11)^(1/2)
2^(-11/2)

recall that

x^m * x^n is the same as xxxxx(m times)*xxxx(n times) = xxxx(m+n) times = x^(m+n)

(x^m)^n = x^m * x^m ... (n times) = x^(m+m+m...n times) = x^(m*n)