Algebra Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Preparation

To determine the value of \(3^{-2}\), it is essential to understand the rules of exponents, particularly how negative exponents function. A negative exponent signifies that you take the reciprocal of the base raised to the absolute value of the exponent.

In this case, \(3^{-2}\) translates to \(\frac{1}{3^2}\). Now, we need to calculate \(3^2\):

\[

3^2 = 3 \times 3 = 9

\]

Thus, substituting back into our expression for the negative exponent, we find:

\[

3^{-2} = \frac{1}{3^2} = \frac{1}{9}

\]

This results in the final value of \(3^{-2}\) being \(\frac{1}{9}\), making it clear why this is the correct answer.

The other options fail to correctly represent the calculation or concept of negative exponents, leading them to not align with the mathematical principles at play here. For example, \(1/3\) and \(1/6\) do not account for squaring the base, while \(3\) represents the base itself, rather than an expression involving an