why are the answers different just because one has parenthesis?
2007-09-06 17:26:50 · 5 answers · asked by azncutie45 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
without the parens, it would mean "negative (4 to the 3rd power)", or -(4 x 4 x 4), or -64. With the parens, it means "(negative 4) to the 3rd power", or -4 x -4 x -4, or -64.
So in this case the answer is the same. If you used an even power, the answer would be different because negative numbers raised to even powers are positive, and raised to odd powers are negative. Think about it: negative times negative is positive. times another negative is negative. times another is positive...
2007-09-06 17:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by Hick_Ninja 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is -64. They are different without the parenthesis because in that case you are only taking the number to the third power. With the parenthesis you take the number AND the sign to the third power.
Example: - 4 to the 4th power is (-) 4*4*4*4 = - 256
BUT (-4) to the 4th power is
(-4) * (-4) * (-4) * (-4) = 256
Hope this helps!
2007-09-06 17:42:09 · answer #2 · answered by LP 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the answer is -64. the parathesis can only change the answer in even exponents where a negative on the outside of the base and exponent just distributes the answer. Whereas for example -3^2 gives you 9 because3^2 is -3 x-3=9. If you have a parenthesis its like-(3)^2 which is -(3x3) which gives you -(9) and that is -9.
2007-09-06 17:38:08 · answer #3 · answered by laze-butt 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
(-4)^3 is the cube of -4
(-4)(-4)(-4) = - 64
-(4)^3 is the negative cube of 4
- (4)(4)(4) = - 64
the parenthesis includes What needs to be cubed and what is left out.
2007-09-06 19:22:05 · answer #4 · answered by 037 G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(-4)^3 [ x^y means 'x' to the power 'y' ]
= (-)^3 (4)^3
= - (64)
= -64
2007-09-10 17:05:49 · answer #5 · answered by defeNder 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋