exponent power? im confused....?

5 ⤊

exponent power? im confused....?

-5^2

I'm not sure if it's -25 or 25, but my calculator says -25 but when i did the process of (-5)(-5) and it turns out to be 25, so idk if it's the positive or negative one =/

2007-12-09 06:43:40 · 2 answers · asked by hpdc90 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics

2 answers

If (- 5)² then (- 5) x (- 5) = 25
If - (5 ²) then - (5 x 5) = - 25
Brackets have to be used to clarify.

2007-12-09 06:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by Como 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋

If it's (- 5)Â²
(- 5) x (- 5) = 25
If it's - (5 Â²)
-(5 x 5) = -25
Depends on parenthetical placement.

PEMDAS~
Parenthesis, Exponents, Mulitply-Divide, Add-Subtract
Do it in that order.

2007-12-09 07:03:02 · answer #2 · answered by Daemon 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋