Evaluate (-1/2)^2

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

Step 1

Use the power rule ${(a b)}^{n} = a^{n} b^{n}$ to distribute the exponent.

Apply the product rule to $- \frac{1}{2}$ .

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

Apply the product rule to $\frac{1}{2}$ .

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

Step 2

Raise $- 1$ to the power of $2$ .

$1 \frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}$

Step 3

Multiply $\frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}$ by $1$ .

$\frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}$

Step 4

One to any power is one.

$\frac{1}{2^{2}}$

Step 5

Raise $2$ to the power of $2$ .

$\frac{1}{4}$

Step 6

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$\frac{1}{4}$

Decimal Form:

$0.25$