Question 23243: what does this mean?? simplify -1^8 and (-1)^8
Answer by rapaljer(4671)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! This is a very important question, and a very important difference!
-1^8 means "-1*1*1*1*1*1*1*1
(-1)^8 means "(-1)*)-1)*(-1)*(-1)*(-1)*(-1)*(-1)*(-1)"
-1^8 with no parentheses means only the 1 is raised to the power of 8. Therefore you take 1^8, which is 1, and the negative is still there. Final answer is -1.
(-1)^8 with parentheses, means to raise -1 to the 8 power. Because it is an even power, the answer will be 1. Final answer.
Thanks for asking a GREAT question!
R^2 at SCC
|
|
|
