Solve (3a)^-2: Working with Negative Exponents Step by Step

We begin by using the negative exponent rule:

$b^{-n}=\frac{1}{b^n}$We apply it to the given expression and obtain the following:

$(3a)^{-2}=\frac{1}{(3a)^2}$We then use the power rule for parentheses:

$(x\cdot y)^n=x^n\cdot y^n$We apply it to the denominator of the expression and obtain the following:

$\frac{1}{(3a)^2}=\frac{1}{3^2a^2}=\frac{1}{9a^2}$Let's summarize the solution to the problem:

$(3a)^{-2}=\frac{1}{(3a)^2} =\frac{1}{9a^2}$

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.