a)
[tex] {( \frac{1}{2} )}^{1} - {( \frac{1}{2}) }^{2} = \frac{ {1}^{1} }{ {2}^{1} } - \frac{ {1}^{2} }{ {2}^{2} } = \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4} = \frac{2}{4} - \frac{1}{4} = \frac{2 - 1}{4} = \frac{1}{4} [/tex]
b)
[tex] {( \frac{1}{4} )}^{0} - {( \frac{1}{4} )}^{2} = 1 - \frac{ {1}^{2} }{ {4}^{2} } = \frac{16}{16} - \frac{1}{16} = \frac{16 - 1}{16} = \frac{15}{16} [/tex]
