Simplify (-2xy)^-3

${(- 2 x y)}^{- 3}$

Step 1

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

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

Step 2

Simplify the denominator.

Apply the product rule to $- 2 x y$ .

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

Apply the product rule to $- 2 x$ .

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

Raise $- 2$ to the power of $3$ .

$\frac{1}{- 8 x^{3} y^{3}}$

Step 3

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{8 x^{3} y^{3}}$