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I don't get it. If I plug in y=-2 it doesn't work...

y^2/16 = 2^-y

plug in y=-2

4/16 = 4
... 1/4= 4 <-- not equal

What am I doing wrong?
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nermeendhuca
I don't get it. If I plug in y=-2 it doesn't work...

y^2/16 = 2^-y

plug in y=-2

4/16 = 4
... 1/4= 4 <-- not equal

What am I doing wrong?

I used to have the same thought as you, but giving the equation a second look has enabled me to know what my fault was :)
It's 4 to the power of y to the power of 2 (4^y^2), not 4 times y^2 (4y^2). I had the wrong answer as I see things in the former way.
(C) is the correct answer.
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When raising an exponential term to an exponent, you can multiply the exponents but how come in this case, if we do that, we get a different answer? For example, why can't 4^(y^2 ) be simplified to 4^(2y)?
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tinamar
When raising an exponential term to an exponent, you can multiply the exponents but how come in this case, if we do that, we get a different answer? For example, why can't 4^(y^2 ) be simplified to 4^(2y)?


Operations involving the same exponents:
Keep the exponent, multiply or divide the bases
\(a^n*b^n=(ab)^n\)

\(\frac{a^n}{b^n}=(\frac{a}{b})^n\)

\((a^m)^n=a^{mn}\)

\(a^{m^n}=a^{(m^n)}\) and not \((a^m)^n\)


Check the thread: https://gmatclub.com/forum/exponents-an ... 74993.html
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