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" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #4705 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=prince_abubu><B>prince_abubu(198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=prince_abubu><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=4705\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+-3%5E2+=+-9+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+-3%5E2+=+-9+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is due to the order of operations. Remember that it goes \"Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication/Division, Addition/Subtraction\" from \"strongest force\" to \"weakest force\".\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If there are, for example, three numbers that have forces between them (in this case, a force can be the plus, minus, multiplication sign, division sign, or an indication to raise to a power), the stronger force will be computed first. For example, take 3*5 + 7. The force between the 3 and 5 is multiplication. The force between the 5 and 7 is addition. Since the force between the 3 and the 5 (aka, the multiplication) is stronger than the addition force between the 5 and the 7, the 3 * 5 will be computed first to get the 15. Only then would there be the addition force between the 15 and the 7. Since there are no stronger forces than the lone addition, the 15 and 7 will add together to 22.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The same principle works with the example <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+-3%5E2+=+-9+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+-3%5E2+=+-9+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. That equation really is saying <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+-1%2A3%5E2+=+-9+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+-1%2A3%5E2+=+-9+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Since the force between the 3 and the 2 (the exponent force) is stronger than the multiplication force between the -1 and the 3, the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is calculated first and you get the 9. This brings you down to -1*9, which is -9.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "With the <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28-3%29%5E2+=+9+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%28-3%29%5E2+=+9+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, we have the parentheses which acts like something that \"breaks the rules\" of the \"force order\". In this case, the parentheses dictates to unify a weaker force (the multiplication force between -1 and 3) FIRST before performing the supposedly more powerful (in this case) exponent force. </SPAN>\n" );
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