Evaluate i^-1

$i^{- 1}$

Step 1

Rewrite the expression using the negative exponent rule $b^{- n} = \frac{1}{b^{n}}$ .

$\frac{1}{i}$

Step 2

Multiply the numerator and denominator of $\frac{1}{i}$ by the conjugate of $i$ to make the denominator real.

$\frac{1}{i} \cdot \frac{i}{i}$

Step 3

Multiply.

Combine.

$\frac{1 i}{i i}$

Multiply $i$ by $1$ .

$\frac{i}{i i}$

Simplify the denominator.

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

$\frac{i}{i^{1} i}$

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

$\frac{i}{i^{1} i^{1}}$

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

$\frac{i}{i^{1 + 1}}$

Add $1$ and $1$ .

$\frac{i}{i^{2}}$

Rewrite $i^{2}$ as $- 1$ .

$\frac{i}{- 1}$

Step 4

Move the negative one from the denominator of $\frac{i}{- 1}$ .

$- 1 \cdot i$

Step 5

Rewrite $- 1 \cdot i$ as $- i$ .

$- i$