Evaluate -1/2(-1)^2

$- \frac{1}{2} {(- 1)}^{2}$

Step 1

Multiply $- 1$ by ${(- 1)}^{2}$ by adding the exponents.

Move ${(- 1)}^{2}$ .

${(- 1)}^{2} \cdot - 1 \frac{1}{2}$

Multiply ${(- 1)}^{2}$ by $- 1$ .

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $1$ .

${(- 1)}^{2} \cdot {(- 1)}^{1} \frac{1}{2}$

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

${(- 1)}^{2 + 1} \frac{1}{2}$

Add $2$ and $1$ .

${(- 1)}^{3} \frac{1}{2}$

Step 2

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $3$ .

$- \frac{1}{2}$

Step 3

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$- \frac{1}{2}$

Decimal Form:

$- 0.5$