document.write( "Question 175469: explain the difference in the meaning of 4a and a to the 4th power..
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "explain the difference in the meaning of -4b and b to the -4th power
\n" ); document.write( "thank you \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #130609 by Alan3354(69443)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
explain the difference in the meaning of 4a and a to the 4th power..
\n" ); document.write( "4a is 4 times a. a to the 4th power (a^4) is a*a*a*a
\n" ); document.write( "As an example, if a is 5:
\n" ); document.write( "4a = 4*5 = 20
\n" ); document.write( "a^4 = 5*5*5*5 = 625
\n" ); document.write( "--------------
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "explain the difference in the meaning of -4b and b to the -4th power
\n" ); document.write( "-4b is -4*b
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E-4+=+1%2Fb%5E4\"
\n" ); document.write( "Negative exponents in the NUM are positive in the DEN.
\n" ); document.write( "Or you can look at it as:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28%28b%5E-4%29%2F1%29%2A%28b%5E4%2Fb%5E4%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "=\"1%2Fb%5E4\"
\n" ); document.write( "As a numberical example, if b = 3:
\n" ); document.write( "-4b = -4*3 = -12
\n" ); document.write( "b^(-4) = 1/b^4 = 1/81
\n" ); document.write( "If b=0.6:
\n" ); document.write( "-4b = -2.4
\n" ); document.write( "b^(-4) = 1/0.1296 =~ 7.716
\n" ); document.write( "Note that a negative exponent does not mean it's a negative result.
\n" ); document.write( "Even when b = -7:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28-7%29%5E-4+=+%2B1%2F2401\"
\n" ); document.write( "However, \"%28-7%29%5E3+=+-343\", and
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28-3%29%5E-3+=+-1%2F27\" \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );