If a=2
what is -a^2?
-4 or 4? Why?
since -x is just (-1)(x), and exponents are done first,
-a^2 = -(a^2) = -(2^2) = -(4) = -4
on the other hand, if you want to do the minus first, you need to say
(-2)^2 = (-2)(-2) = +4
what is -a^2?
-4 or 4? Why?
-a^2 = -(a^2) = -(2^2) = -(4) = -4
on the other hand, if you want to do the minus first, you need to say
(-2)^2 = (-2)(-2) = +4