Batlos, Proportions, and Percents 105 Serena Using a calculator to evaluate expo Espanol Use the ALEKS calculator to evaluate each expression. Round your answers to the nearest thousandth. Do not round any intermediate computations. \[ \begin{array}{r} 3.1^{1.9}= \\ \left(\frac{3}{5}\right)^{-0.85}= \end{array} \]

Did you know that exponents can be traced back to the ancient Babylonians? They used early forms of exponentiation to solve problems involving geometric shapes and properties of numbers! The symbol we use today for exponents wasn't standardized until the 16th century. So next time you’re crunching numbers, remember you're tapping into centuries of mathematical evolution! In real-world situations, understanding exponents and powers can be incredibly useful. For instance, in finance, compound interest calculations rely heavily on exponents to determine how much your investment will grow over time. This is also true for calculating population growth or radioactive decay in science. Knowing how to manipulate these equations can really level up your understanding and decision-making!