Hi,
Perhaps someone can help explain the following. I've been going through the MGMAT number properties book, and there's a section on exponents and common errors when it comes to simplifying expressions. Here's one that I don't quite understand.
Why is it that -x^2 cannot be simplified as x^2?
If -4^2 = 16 and 4^2 = 16, I would think that -x^2 and x^2 would resolve the same, too.
And, for that matter, just to make sure I'm not confused about another concept, is it safe to say that if a negative number is raised to a positve exponent, the solution is always positive, but if it is raise to a negative exponent, the solution is always negative?
Thanks in advance!
Matthew
Perhaps someone can help explain the following. I've been going through the MGMAT number properties book, and there's a section on exponents and common errors when it comes to simplifying expressions. Here's one that I don't quite understand.
Why is it that -x^2 cannot be simplified as x^2?
If -4^2 = 16 and 4^2 = 16, I would think that -x^2 and x^2 would resolve the same, too.
And, for that matter, just to make sure I'm not confused about another concept, is it safe to say that if a negative number is raised to a positve exponent, the solution is always positive, but if it is raise to a negative exponent, the solution is always negative?
Thanks in advance!
Matthew
