Chapter 13: Problem 63
Evaluate each of the following. \(\frac{(-1)^{k}}{k-6},\) for \(k=7\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
\(-1\)
Step by step solution
01
Substitute the given value of k
Substitute the given value of \(k\) into the expression. Here \(k = 7\). So, the expression becomes \(\frac{(-1)^{7}}{7-6}\).
02
Simplify the exponent
Calculate \((-1)^{7}\). Since 7 is an odd number, \((-1)^{7} = -1\). The expression now is \(\frac{-1}{7-6}\).
03
Simplify the denominator
Calculate \(7 - 6\). This gives us 1. The expression is now \(\frac{-1}{1}\).
04
Evaluate the fraction
Simplify the fraction \(\frac{-1}{1}\) which is equal to \(-1\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
substitution
Substitution is a fundamental algebraic technique used to replace a variable with a given value. It helps in evaluating expressions. In our exercise, we were given the expression \(\frac{(-1)^{k}}{k-6}\) and a specific value for \(k = 7\). By substituting \(k\) with \(7\), the expression became \(\frac{(-1)^{7}}{7-6}\). This step is crucial, as it replaces a variable with a known number, making the problem easier to handle.
Some tips to remember:
Some tips to remember:
- Always verify the value you are substituting.
- Double-check that you substitute the correct variable.
- Ensure you rewrite the entire expression with this new value.
exponents
Exponents represent repeated multiplication of a number by itself. In our case, \(\(-1\)^{7}\), the base is -1 and the exponent is 7. Since the exponent (7) is an odd number, our calculation \(\(-1\)^{7}\) results in -1.
Here are some key points about exponents:
Here are some key points about exponents:
- If the base is -1 and the exponent is odd, the result is -1.
- If the base is -1 and the exponent is even, the result is 1.
- Exponents can simplify large calculations.
simplification
Simplification involves making an expression easier to understand and solve. After substitution and handling exponents, our next step was simplifying the denominator. From \(\frac{(-1)^{7}}{7-6}\), we then simplified \(7 - 6\) to 1. This step reduced the fraction to \(\frac{-1}{1}\).
Key tips for simplification:
Key tips for simplification:
- Simplify exponents and perform any arithmetic operations next.
- Always work step-by-step to avoid mistakes.
- Combine like terms where possible to make calculations easier.
fractions
Fractions represent a part of a whole. They consist of a numerator and denominator. In this exercise, we needed to simplify \(\frac{-1}{1}\). A fraction can often be simplified further by dividing the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). Here, the GCD of \(1\) and \(-1\) is 1, simplifying \(\frac{-1}{1}\) to \(-1\).
Important points about fractions:
Important points about fractions:
- Always check if you can reduce the fraction further.
- Understand that a fraction with a denominator of 1 simply represents the numerator.
- Negative signs can be managed by transferring them between the numerator and the denominator.