Simplify -1^-5y^2

$- 1^{- 5} y^{2}$

Step 1

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

$- \frac{1}{1^{5}} y^{2}$

Step 2

One to any power is one.

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

Step 3

Cancel the common factor of $1$ .

Cancel the common factor.

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

Rewrite the expression.

$- 1 \cdot 1 y^{2}$

Step 4

Simplify the expression.

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$- 1 y^{2}$

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

$- y^{2}$