SOLUTION: Which one correct: Value of (-4)^(6/2) =.... ( 64 , -64 )

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Question 1204863: Which one correct:
Value of (-4)^(6/2) =....
( 64 , -64 )
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, greenestamps:
Answer by ikleyn(52880) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Which one highlight%28is%29 correct:
Value of (-4)^(6/2) =....
( 64 , -64 )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Notice that (6/2} = 3;  so you actually ask about the value of %28-4%29%5E3.


%28-4%29%5E3 = (-4)*(-4)*(-4) = -64.


ANSWER.  Value of  (-4)^(6/2)  is  -64.

Solved, answered and explained.



Answer by greenestamps(13209) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Standard order of operations says simplify inside parentheses before doing exponentiation.

%28-4%29%5E%286%2F2%29=%28-4%29%5E3=-64

To get a result of 64, the expression would have to be

%28%28-4%29%5E6%29%5E%281%2F2%29=4096%5E%281%2F2%29=64