powers

A power of a positive whole number is always a positive number:

35 = 243

A power of a negative whole number is a positive number if the index is an even number, or a negative number if the index is an odd number:

(-3)3 = (-3)·(-3)·(-3) = 9 · (-3) = -27

(-4)2 = (-4)·(-4) = 16

 

 

  Exercises:

1.- Calculate: 

a) (-2)3 =

b) (-5)2 =

c) -52 =

d) 73 =

e) (-1)1.132.221 =

 

2.- Calculate, by using before the power properties:

a) (-4)8 :(-4)6 =

b) [(-2)7 :(-2)2]:(-2)3 =

 

 

 

  Solutions: 1.- a) -8; b) 25; c) -25; d) 343; e) -1;

                2.- a) (-4)2 = 16; b) (-2)2 = 4

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