+0  
 
0
868
6
avatar+1090 

$$\left({\mathtt{\,-\,}}{{\mathtt{3}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{{\mathtt{4}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}\right){\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}\left({\frac{{{\mathtt{3}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}}{{\mathtt{3}}}}\right)$$

Site calculator (and the answer key) say the answer is: $$\left({\mathtt{\,-\,}}{{\mathtt{3}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}{\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}{{\mathtt{4}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}\right){\mathtt{\,\small\textbf+\,}}\left({\frac{{{\mathtt{3}}}^{{\mathtt{2}}}}{{\mathtt{3}}}}\right) = {\mathtt{10}}$$

I got 28...

I'd assume it's the negative applying after the exponent of 3, but why?

 Nov 15, 2014

Best Answer 

 #5
avatar+128473 
+10

Mathematician.....

-an    means that the exponent only applies to the "a"...not to the "understood" -1 in front

But (-a)n  means that the exponent applies to everything in the parentheses....

Does that help???....students are often confused about this.....!!!

 

 Nov 15, 2014
 #1
avatar+118608 
+10

Hi Mathematician,

 

$$(-3^2+4^2)+(\frac{3^2}{3})\\
=(\textcolor[rgb]{1,0,0}{-1}*3^2+4^2)+(\frac{3^2}{3})\\
=(\textcolor[rgb]{1,0,0}{-1}*9+16)+3\\
=-9+16+3\\
=10$$

 Nov 15, 2014
 #2
avatar+128473 
+10

(-32 + 42) + (32 / 3)

(- 9 + 16) + (9 / 3)

( 7 ) + ( 3)

10

I suspect that you evaluated -32  as (-3)2 .....remember...the first is -9, but the second is +9

 Nov 15, 2014
 #3
avatar+1090 
0

So if it's negative, it needs parenthesis; otherwise the negative applies afterword.

 Nov 15, 2014
 #4
avatar+118608 
+10

that's correct and it makes more sense if you see it in a different context.

 

eg

$$12-5^2=12-25=-13$$

 

you would never think of saying that this is 12+25 would you?  

 Nov 15, 2014
 #5
avatar+128473 
+10
Best Answer

Mathematician.....

-an    means that the exponent only applies to the "a"...not to the "understood" -1 in front

But (-a)n  means that the exponent applies to everything in the parentheses....

Does that help???....students are often confused about this.....!!!

 

CPhill Nov 15, 2014
 #6
avatar+1090 
0

Forunately, I'm learning this before I make mistakes with it in class, so I'm better prepared (we haven't gone over how negatives work in this sense; now I'll be sure to remember it.) Thank you.

 Nov 15, 2014

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