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Where the Minus Lives

Part of the Exponents & Polynomials section of Coddy's Algebra journey. Lesson 4 of 62.

Many people say $-{5}^{2}$ is 25. It is -25. An exponent belongs only to the number right before it. Here the 2 belongs to the 5, not to the minus. So $-{5}^{2}$ means the opposite of ${5}^{2}$ , which is -25. To square -5, put it in brackets: ${\left(-5\right)}^{2} = 25$ .

Challenge

Work out $-{3}^{4}+{\left(-3\right)}^{4}$ . Look at where each minus sign is. Write each next line. A line with the wrong value is not accepted.

Try it yourself

-3^{4}+\left(-3\right)^{4}

Simplify

All lessons in Exponents & Polynomials

1What a Power Is

Repeated Multiplication Squares and Cubes Powers of Negative NumbersWhere the Minus LivesRecap: First Powers

4Power of a Power

A Power Raised Again Why Exponents Multiply Product Rule or Power Rule?The Rule in Letters Recap: Power of a Power

7Scientific Notation

Very Large Numbers Back to Standard Form More Practice, Bigger Numbers Very Small Numbers Multiplying the Notation Recap: Scientific Notation

10Multiplying Polynomials

Monomial Times Polynomial Minding the Signs Binomial Times Binomial With Coefficients The Square of a Binomial A Difference of Squares Recap: Multiplying

2The Product Rule

Multiplying Same Bases With Coefficients Recap: The Product Rule

5Product and Quotient Powers

Every Factor Gets the Power With a Number Inside A Power of a Quotient All Three Rules Together Recap: Products and Quotients

8What a Polynomial Is

Terms with Powers The Degree Like Terms, Only Stronger Recap: Meet the Polynomials

11Dividing by a Monomial

Splitting the Fraction Dividing by a Variable Term Bigger Splits Cancel with Care Recap: Dividing