Solve 2^-1+(-3)^-1+(-1)^-1

$$2 ^ { - 1 } + ( - 3 ) ^ { - 1 } + ( - 1 ) ^ { - 1 }$$

Evaluate

$$-\frac{5}{6}\approx -0.833333333$$

Solution Steps

Calculate 2 to the power of -1 and get \frac{1}{2}.

$$\frac{1}{2}+\left(-3\right)^{-1}+\left(-1\right)^{-1}$$

Calculate -3 to the power of -1 and get -\frac{1}{3}.

$$\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{3}+\left(-1\right)^{-1}$$

Subtract \frac{1}{3} from \frac{1}{2} to get \frac{1}{6}.

$$\frac{1}{6}+\left(-1\right)^{-1}$$

Calculate -1 to the power of -1 and get -1.

$$\frac{1}{6}-1$$

Subtract 1 from \frac{1}{6} to get -\frac{5}{6}.

$$-\frac{5}{6}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{5}{6} = -0.8333333333333334$$