Simplify (-4x^2)(-2x^-2)

$(- 4 x^{2}) (- 2 x^{- 2})$

Step 1

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$- 4 \cdot - 2 x^{2} x^{- 2}$

Step 2

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x^{- 2}$ by adding the exponents.

Move $x^{- 2}$ .

$- 4 \cdot - 2 (x^{- 2} x^{2})$

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

$- 4 \cdot - 2 x^{- 2 + 2}$

Add $- 2$ and $2$ .

$- 4 \cdot - 2 x^{0}$

Step 3

Simplify $- 4 \cdot - 2 x^{0}$ .

$- 4 \cdot - 2$

Step 4

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 2$ .

$8$