1. The problem asks if $x^{-5}$ can be written as $\frac{1}{x^5}$.\n\n2. Recall the rule of exponents: for any nonzero $x$ and integer $n$, $x^{-n} = \frac{1}{x^n}$.\n\n3. Applying this rule to $x^{-5}$, we get $x^{-5} = \frac{1}{x^5}$.\n\n4. Therefore, $x^{-5}$ can indeed be written as $\frac{1}{x^5}$.