SOLUTION: Hi. I have a question concerning how exponents 'work'. I understand how exponents 'work' like finding their value and how parenthesis change their value sometimes but that isn't m

Question 254067: Hi. I have a question concerning how exponents 'work'.
I understand how exponents 'work' like finding their value and how parenthesis change their value sometimes but that isn't my question.
My question is why is it that sometimes exponents come out positive and negative without parenthesis. Like this example... -x^2=y
I understand the concept sorta. To solve do you want to square x then take the negative result or you the negative value of x to square
I know if you graph this equation out the graph will open down but then why is it a regular problem -x^2 is positive (It is poitive right?)
Why is it sometimes you get positive and negative answers for the similiar probblems.
Is it just with graphing?
Like when you have a negative exponent in graphing you always take the negative or what?
Please help Thanks!
PS. I'm unsure liike when someone ask me -2^2 if it is positive or negative
Found 4 solutions by richwmiller, smithsac, richard1234, MathTherapy:
Answer by richwmiller(17219)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Any real number squared is positive.
The imaginary number i^2 =-1
A negative exponent has nothing to do with whether the number is positive or negative. x^(-2)=1/(x^2)
I suspect you are confusing sqrt with squares
square roots can be positive or negative
sqrt(25) can be -5 or +5
I am not sure what you mean by parentheses change their value.
The parentheses don't change the value. They just tell you what value to use
for example
x^(2)*y means that only the 2 is the exponent
whereas x^(2y) mean the 2y is the exponent

It would help if you can provide examples for your questions.
Answer by smithsac(2)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Parenthesis indicate that the number is either a positive number or negative number. When there is no parenthesis think of it like this:
-2 really means negative 1 x positive 2; in other words, you're not seeing the number 1 right next to the minus sign. When you add a parenthesis to this it actually is the answer or product to negative 1 x positive 2 making the number simply now negative 2.
Here is the number with Parenthesis:
(-2)=negative 2 Here -2 = negative 1 x positive 2 so when you add an exponent to either one you'll see how to tell when the answer will come out positive or negative.
Examples:
-2^2 = negative 1 x positive 2^2 = -1*4(here the positive 2 is squared first and then multiplied by the negative 1) this is based on order of operations where exponents come before multiply or divide = Answer is -4
(-2)^2 = negative 2 x negative 2 = positive 4 also written -2*-2 = 4

Try this one: -(2)^2 = negative 1(the 1 is hidden)*positive 2^2 = -4
or -(-2)^2 = negative 1(1 is hidden)*negative 2 squared which is negative 2 times negative 2
Then the answer is negative 1 time positive 4(which resulted from multiplying negative 2 by negative 2) = ANSWER IS -4
HOPEFULLY THIS DIDN'T CONFUSE YOU FURTHER :-)
Answer by richard1234(7193)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
is the negative of 2^2, or -4.

is equal to -2 times -2, or 4.

Answer by MathTherapy(10552)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Hi. I have a question concerning how exponents 'work'.
I understand how exponents 'work' like finding their value and how parenthesis change their value sometimes but that isn't my question.
My question is why is it that sometimes exponents come out positive and negative without parenthesis. Like this example... -x^2=y
I understand the concept sorta. To solve do you want to square x then take the negative result or you the negative value of x to square
I know if you graph this equation out the graph will open down but then why is it a regular problem -x^2 is positive (It is poitive right?)
Why is it sometimes you get positive and negative answers for the similiar probblems.
Is it just with graphing?
Like when you have a negative exponent in graphing you always take the negative or what?
Please help Thanks!
PS. I'm unsure liike when someone ask me -2^2 if it is positive or negative

With , only x is squared, so that produces: , which is written as .
This is different from: in which case, the - x is squared to produce
RELATED QUESTIONS
hi I have a question concerning identitiy problems I need to prove that:... (answered by Alan3354)
i have a work sheet on fractions and exponents but how do you do it?.......you... (answered by Nate)
how do negative exponents work? (answered by checkley77)
Hi, I have a question that reads: Factorise fully {{{ 3a^3+12a^2*b^2+9a^5*b^3 }}}... (answered by stanbon)
Hi there, I have a question pertaining to solving exponential equations with common... (answered by richwmiller)
hi, i had a question about negative exponents, how would i solve 1.6 multiplied by 10 to... (answered by rfer,stanbon)
how do the exponents work when operating binomials and... (answered by AnlytcPhil)
How can I simplfy... (answered by Adam)
If I have a number example: 243 with an exponent that's the fraction 5/3, how do I work... (answered by Fombitz)