it has to do with exponents
2007-04-16 12:58:25 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
(-6)^(-4) is 1/(-6)^4 = 1/6^4 becuase 4 is an even power
- 6^(-4) is -1/6^4
2007-04-16 13:03:16 · answer #1 · answered by hustolemyname 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a^-n = 1/a^n
(-6)^-4
= (-1/6)^4
because the exponent is a positive number, the asnwer will be a positive number
= 1^4 / 6^4
= 1/ 1296
-6^-4
the negative signs stand by itself
-6^-4 can be written as -(6)^-4
= - (1/6)^4
= -1 / 1296
2007-04-16 20:07:14 · answer #2 · answered by 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a mater of what you do first. You are comparing
(-6)^4 vs -(6^4)
One raises 6 to the fourth power first and then adds the negative sign. The other raises -6 to the fourth power. One result will come out positive and the other negative.
2007-04-16 20:04:02 · answer #3 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by placing the number in parentheses, you are saying that the entire number, -6, is raised to the -4th power. When you keep it outside the parentheses, the number 6 is raised to the -4th power and then multiplied by -1. It's a matter of order of operations.
Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication
Division
Addition
Subtraction
So with the parentheses, everything in it is raised to the power. When there are no parentheses, the exponent is worked out first, followed by the multiplication.
2007-04-16 20:04:25 · answer #4 · answered by md2b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(-6)^-4 = 1/(6)^4 and -6^-4=-1/(6)^4
2007-04-16 20:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by santmann2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the answer is -16
2007-04-17 01:44:05 · answer #6 · answered by Terisa C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋