SOLUTION: (-m) to the 2/3. Is that the square root of negative m to the third, or the cube root of negative m squared?

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Question 9060: (-m) to the 2/3. Is that the square root of negative m to the third, or the cube root of negative m squared?
Answer by longjonsilver(2297) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%28-m%29%5E%282%2F3%29 can be either

%28%28-m%29%5E2%29%5E%281%2F3%29 or %28%28-m%29%5E%281%2F3%29%29%5E2

These are the same thing. eg %2827%29%5E%282%2F3%29 can be either %28%2827%29%5E2%29%5E%281%2F3%29 or %28%2827%29%5E%281%2F3%29%29%5E2

Sometimes the first is easier to work out and sometimes the second version. This example... %28%2827%29%5E%281%2F3%29%29%5E2 is the better since %2827%29%5E%281%2F3%29 is 3.

So we then have 3%5E2 which is 9.

Hope this helps.

jon.