SOLUTION: I cannot solve (-3-(sqrt-7))^2? I have seen example questions similar in the math books provided at school, but theres an unexplained two that appear in the distributing the expone

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Question 876531: I cannot solve (-3-(sqrt-7))^2? I have seen example questions similar in the math books provided at school, but theres an unexplained two that appear in the distributing the exponent step, and that throws me off more than the anything, help?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You might mean highlight_green%28%28-3-sqrt%28-7%29%29%5E2%29 instead of %28-3-%28sqrt-7%29%29%5E2.

The form of expression is a little uncomfortable. Try this way, although the negative sign will soon be changed upon squareing.
%28%28-1%29%283%2Bsqrt%28-7%29%29%29%5E2, reverse of distributive property to factorize neg. 1.
1%2A%283%2Bsqrt%28-7%29%29%5E2
From here, you must understand distributive property;
3%5E2%2B3sqrt%28-7%29%2B3sqrt%28-7%29%2B%28-7%29
9%2B2%2A3sqrt%28-7%29-7
highlight%282%2B6sqrt%28-7%29%29
You might leave the result in that form, or you might use the imaginary number i=sqrt%28-1%29 and say
highlight%282%2B6i%2Asqrt%287%29%29.