document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=459838>Question 459838</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Help understanding negative numbers like -x² when x= -2 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #315379 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math-vortex><B>math-vortex(648)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-11.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math-vortex><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=math-vortex><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=315379\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You want to evaluate the expression  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > for x = -2. <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "There are a lot of negatives running around here, but don't worry. It's pretty straight forward.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "We begin by substituting -2 for x in the expression.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-x%5E2=-%28-2%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-x%5E2=-%28-2%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "At this point, we have to decide how to deal with the two negative signs. Do we say \"two negatives make a positive\" and square positive 2, OR do we square negative 2 and then add the other negative sign. We will get different answers depending on what we choose.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This is why mathematicians decided on an Order of Operations. (It's a good thing to always get the same answer for the same problem.)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In your problem, the order of operations is to square the -2, then add the other negative sign, because exponents come before multiplication/division.  or addition/subtraction.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28-2%29%5E2=4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28-2%29%5E2=4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then we add on the other negative sign in front, so our answer is -4.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-%28-2%29%5E2=-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-%28-2%29%5E2=-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I hope this helps. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Send me a message if you still have questions about this.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ms.Figgy<BR>\n" );
document.write( "math-vortex </SPAN>\n" );
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