Simplify (-ab)^-1

${(- a b)}^{- 1}$

Step 1

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

$\frac{1}{- a b}$

Step 2

Cancel the common factor of $1$ and $- 1$ .

Rewrite $1$ as $- 1 (- 1)$ .

$\frac{- 1 (- 1)}{- a b}$

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{a b}$