What number raised to the - 2 exponent would equal 1/4?

First, you could solve this problem algebraically. You could write x^-2=1/4. Next, you may apply the Laws of Exponents, where there's the rule of a^-m=1/a^m. In this case, this shows that x^-2 is equal to 1/x^2. Plus, all you have to do now is solve algebraically, which you can do so by doing cross-products or taking the square root of 4 to find x, as x squared is equal to 4. Your final equation may look like 4=x^2, where you solve for x.

The number is 2, 2^2=4, 2^-2=1/4