document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=395800>Question 395800</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Insert grouping symbols so that the expression below will have a value of -20 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "4+12(divided by)2 to the third power </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #280906 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Edwin+McCravy><B>Edwin McCravy(20056)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Edwin+McCravy><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Edwin+McCravy><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=280906\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> There is no way to get a negative number using only positive numbers if there can be no subtraction.  That's because <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1. adding positive numbers gives only positive numbers, never negative numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2. multiplying positive numbers gives only positive numbers, never negative<BR>\n" );
document.write( "numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3. dividing positive numbers gives only positive numbers, never negative<BR>\n" );
document.write( "numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4. raising a positive number to a power gives positive numbers, never negative<BR>\n" );
document.write( "numbers.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The only way to work with positive numbers only and get a negative number is to<BR>\n" );
document.write( "subtract a larger positive number from a smaller positive number.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "But you have no subtraction in your instructions:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "4+12(divided by)2 to the third power<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and you have only positive numbers 4, 12, 2 and 3 to work with.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore no matter where you put parentheses, you can never get a negative<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So there is no way you could ever get a negative number such as -20 without<BR>\n" );
document.write( "doing any subtraction.   So the problem is impossible.  Did you mistype<BR>\n" );
document.write( "something?  If so post again with the correct problem<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin</pre>  </SPAN>\n" );
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