SW StudyWalks

College Algebra  /  Alg 011  ·  Atom · ~20 seconds

Exponents Before Negation

Video not yet published
to the StudyWalks catalog
State

An exponent binds to the base directly beneath it, so a leading negative sign waits: −3² means the opposite of 3², which is −9.

Show

Parentheses change the base: (−3)² squares −3 itself and equals 9. The parentheses, not the sign, decide what gets squared.

Builds on

  • Nothing — this is a starting point.

Unlocks

  • Nothing yet depends on this.