2015 AMC 10B Problem 1

Attempt Problem 1 of the 2015 AMC 10B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2015 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

What is the value of

2-(-2)^{-2}?

-2

\dfrac{1}{16}

\dfrac{7}{4}

\dfrac{9}{4}

6

Negative exponent means reciprocal of a power

Compute

2-\frac14

Since

(-2)^{-2}=\frac{1}{(-2)^2}=\frac14

, the expression is

2-\frac14=\frac74.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 1 in other years