Negative exponents represent the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive power. For example, 4−3 Simplifies to 1/43 , which equals 1/64 or approximately 0.015625. Negative exponents are essential in mathematics, helping to express very small or large values compactly, such as in scientific notation. Understanding this concept is crucial for solving algebraic problems and working with exponential expressions in real-world applications.