Simplify 7^-2(-3)^2

$7^{- 2} {(- 3)}^{2}$

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

$\frac{1}{7^{2}} {(- 3)}^{2}$

Evaluate the exponents.

Raise $7$ to the power of $2$ .

$\frac{1}{49} {(- 3)}^{2}$

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

$\frac{1}{49} \cdot 9$

Combine $\frac{1}{49}$ and $9$ .

$\frac{9}{49}$

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$\frac{9}{49}$

Decimal Form:

$0.18367346 \dots$