document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=8517>Question 8517</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\">  I do not understand why -3² = -9 when (-3)² = 9 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "I know a negative times a negative equals a positive. So how can -3x-3= -9?<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #4704 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=4704\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Look at it this way.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "(-3)^2 = (-3)*(-3) = 9 You are correct in saying that a negative times a negative gives a positive result as you can see here. \r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "-3^2 = -(3*3) = -(3)^2 = -(9)  Here, you have a positive times a positive gives a positive result but the whole thing has a negative sign in front so that makes the result negative. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );