# Basic math question which I don't understand :(

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## Main Question or Discussion Point

I'm looking at a cost breakdown of items, and one looks like this:

Plastic Tank cost ($L−1) 0.22 – 0.37 I think what it's saying is that a tank costs$0.22 to $0.37 per Liter of volume. Regardless, I don't understand it ($ L−1). I understand negative exponents, but I don't see how it fits in here. Can anyone explain it to me?

Thanks.

Last edited:

Bandersnatch
The units are $L^{-1} = \frac{}{L}$. I.e. it's dollars per litre, as you correctly surmised.

Mark44
Mentor
I'm looking at a cost breakdown of items, and one looks like this:

Plastic Tank cost ($L−1) 0.22 – 0.37 I think what it's saying is that a tank costs$0.22 to $0.37 per Liter of volume. Regardless, I don't understand it ($ L−1). I understand negative exponents, but I don't see how it fits in here.

Edit: Sorry, I failed to mention that the -1 is an exponent, and L (Liters) is the base.
Based on your interpretation, the tank cost per liter ranges from $.22 to$.37. To get the price for a tank, you would multiply the cost per liter by the number of liters of capacity of the tank.
As a more mathematical expression this would be $\frac C L$ or $CL^{-1}$, where C (the cost per liter) is between $.22 and$.37.

Thank you both :)