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If you square a negative number, is the answer positive?

 May 16, 2015

Best Answer 

 #1
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Yes. If you square, say, -3, you have (-3)^2 = 9

 

However, you need to be careful.  If you write -3^2 (without brackets around the -3), then the exponent takes priority and you have -(3^2) = -9

 May 16, 2015
 #1
avatar+33603 
+13
Best Answer

Yes. If you square, say, -3, you have (-3)^2 = 9

 

However, you need to be careful.  If you write -3^2 (without brackets around the -3), then the exponent takes priority and you have -(3^2) = -9

Alan May 16, 2015

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