Question 74182: Please explain why (-x)^2 and x^2 are not equivalent can you give me an example? Also how do evaluate 3x^0 and (3x)^0 when x is not 0 would my results be different?
Answer by cathieb1225(41)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Please explain why (-x)^2 and x^2 are not equivalent can you give me an example? Also how do evaluate 3x^0 and (3x)^0 when x is not 0 would my results be different?
(-x)^2 is x^2 when simplified.
(-2)^2 would be (-2)(-2) or 4. -2^2 means (2)(2), which is 4, then you put the negative sign in front of it, -4. That is why they are not the same. When you put parentheses around the -2, the -2 is considered as a unit. Without the parentheses, the 2 only is squared and the negative sign is added afterwards.
Any term with a 0 exponent is always 1. So, 3x^0 is 3 times 1 or 3. By putting the parentheses around the whole thing (3x)^0 would be 1.
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