[tex]\bf a^{-{ n}} \implies \cfrac{1}{a^{ n}}\qquad \qquad
\cfrac{1}{a^{ n}}\implies a^{-{ n}}
\\ \quad \\
% negative exponential denominator
a^{{ n}} \implies \cfrac{1}{a^{- n}}
\qquad \qquad
\cfrac{1}{a^{- n}}\implies \cfrac{1}{\frac{1}{a^{ n}}}\implies a^{{ n}} \\\\
-------------------------------\\\\
(-4)^{-2}\implies \cfrac{1}{(-4)^2}\implies \cfrac{1}{(-4)(-4)}\implies \cfrac{1}{16}[/tex]