What type(s) of value(s) can a negative number produce when squared?(1 point)
Responses
positive or negative values
positive or negative values
negative values only
negative values only
positive values only
positive values only
zero only
The correct answer is positive values only.
When a negative number is squared, it will always produce a positive value.
To understand why this is, we need to remember the basic rule of multiplication: a negative number multiplied by a negative number equals a positive number.
So, when we square a negative number, we are essentially multiplying it by itself. Since both factors are negative, the result will be positive.
For example, if we square -3, we get (-3) x (-3) = 9, which is a positive value.
Therefore, the correct answer is "positive values only".