document.write( "Question 99561: I haven't seen this math in years.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Can you help me please. What does it mean to simply the expression.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "-3 (with a -2 in higher power) and also again when it's in ()\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-3) (also with a -2 in higher power).
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Algebra.Com's Answer #72426 by Edwin McCravy(20060) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I haven't seen this math in years.
\n" ); document.write( "Can you help me please. What does it mean to simply the expression.
\n" ); document.write( "Question:
\n" ); document.write( "-3 (with a -2 in higher power) and also again when it's in ()
\n" ); document.write( "(-3) (also with a -2 in higher power).
\n" ); document.write( "Thanks\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "

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document.write( "You are wanting to know the difference between\r\n" );
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document.write( " and \r\n" );
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document.write( "Notice that the first begins with a negative sign \"-\"\r\n" );
document.write( "whereas the second begins with \"(\".\r\n" );
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document.write( "When an expression begins with a negative sign, consider\r\n" );
document.write( "that introductory \"-\" as though it were \"×\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "So\r\n" );
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document.write( " means ×\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then we use the rule for negative exponents\r\n" );
document.write( "and replace only the  factor by \r\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore\r\n" );
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document.write( "× means ×\r\n" );
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document.write( "which means × which means \r\n" );
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document.write( "-------------------------------------\r\n" );
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document.write( "Now  does not begin with a negative sign,\r\n" );
document.write( "so we go ahead and begin with using the rule for negative \r\n" );
document.write( "exponents and therefore\r\n" );
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document.write( " means \r\n" );
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document.write( "Since  means  which is +\r\n" );
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document.write( " means  which means \r\n" );
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document.write( "-------------------------\r\n" );
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document.write( "Note that the difference is in the sign.  One rule that\r\n" );
document.write( "always works is: \r\n" );
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document.write( "1. if the power is EVEN the answer to\r\n" );
document.write( "the one that begins with a \"-\" is negative and\r\n" );
document.write( "the one that begins with \"(\" is positive.\r\n" );
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document.write( "2. if the power is ODD the answers to\r\n" );
document.write( "both are the same, and that answer is always negative. \r\n" );
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document.write( "Yours was case 1 with an EVEN exponent, so they ended\r\n" );
document.write( "up with different signs.  However if you had had an ODD \r\n" );
document.write( "exponent they would have both ended up as the same \r\n" );
document.write( "NEGATIVE number.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin

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