expodent question

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5^2 - 5^1 / 5^-1

how do you do this???

I know how to get the answer is I actualy solve it like 5*5 = 25-5*5=100

but how do you do it keeping the expodents at the beginning? I tried doing 5^2-5^1= but it doesn't work cuz the base has a -5?

I dunno, HELP!

anna
 
5^2 - (5^1 / 5^-1)
Hint: 5^1/5^-1 = 5^2

BTW if you have something like x = 2 - 5^2 you would treat it as 2 - (5^2) = 2 - 25 = -23
not 2 + (-5)^2 = 27
 
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