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Explain the difference bewteen (-5)² and -5²

1 Answer

1 vote

So for the first one you have;

(-5)² as, Negative so like this, 5-5-5-5-5. Making (-5)² closed!

Then same for;

-5², But quite opposite, because it doesn't have () making -5² left open!
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Example,

The only difference between −5² and (-5)² is the latter has a useless pair of parentheses. The contents within parentheses (or other bracketing) are evaluated first, and the expression “(5)” is reduced to “5” —totally pointless, since both cases end up evaluating −5² anyway.

So;

When there is any doubt, put parentheses in the right place (not just surrounding one openend), to make sure what you want to happen does happen.

Hope this helped!!!

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User Dasith
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