If $${\log _x}\left( {\frac{9}{{16}}} \right) = - \frac{1}{2},$$    then x is equal to:

$$\eqalign{ & {\log _x}\left( {{9 \over {16}}} \right) = - {1 \over 2} \cr & \Rightarrow {x^{ - {1 \over 2}}} = {9 \over {16}} \cr & \Rightarrow {1 \over {\sqrt x }} = {9 \over {16}} \cr & \Rightarrow \sqrt x = {{16} \over 9} \cr & \Rightarrow x = {\left( {{{16} \over 9}} \right)^2} \cr & \Rightarrow x = {{256} \over {81}} \cr} $$