[tex] \bf ~~~~~~~~~~~~\textit{negative exponents}
\\\\
a^{-n} \implies \cfrac{1}{a^n}
\qquad \qquad
\cfrac{1}{a^n}\implies a^{-n}
\qquad \qquad
a^n\implies \cfrac{1}{a^{-n}}
\\\\[-0.35em]
\rule{34em}{0.25pt}\\\\
\left( \cfrac{36b^3}{9a^5} \right)^3\implies \left( \cfrac{4b^3}{a^5} \right)^3\implies \stackrel{\textit{distributing the exponent}}{\left(\cfrac{4^3b^{3\cdot 3}}{a^{5\cdot 3}}\right)}\implies \cfrac{64b^9}{a^{15}} [/tex]
