Evaluate 3(-1/2)^2

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

Step 1

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

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

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

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

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

Step 2

Simplify the expression.

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

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

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

$3 \frac{1^{2}}{2^{2}}$

One to any power is one.

$3 \frac{1}{2^{2}}$

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

$3 (\frac{1}{4})$

Step 3

Combine $3$ and $\frac{1}{4}$ .

$\frac{3}{4}$

Step 4

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$\frac{3}{4}$

Decimal Form:

$0.75$