ACT · Question of the Day

ACT Question of the Day

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Thursday, September 17, 2026

What is $5^{-2}$ ?

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Question of the Day

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What is $5^{-2}$ ?

$1/25$ (correct answer)
$-25$
$25$
$-1/25$

Explanation: The negative exponent rule states that $5^{-2}$ = $1/5^2$ . We take the reciprocal of the base and make the exponent positive: $1/5^2$ = $1/25$ . A negative exponent creates a fraction, not a negative number. Choice B incorrectly gives $-25$ , confusing negative exponents with negative values.