What is -2^2

[mouse pouch]

Me and some other people on the CS:GO Jailbreak server were having a discussion on what is -2^2. Others say 4, other say -4. Google says -4. Some calculators says -4 some say 4.

In school, I swear I have been taught. The power of something is the number times itself. So -2^2 would look like -2 * -2 = 4

What's your answer?

 

[Cian]

Well yeah it should be (-2)(-2) negative cancels out so 4

 

[webby]

NO. DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE. -2^2 = -4 ; HERE IS WHY.

For an exponent, you take only the variable / number, in this case, the 2. You LEAVE THE SIGN OUT OF THE EXPONENT.

It would look like this -> - (2 x 2) = -4

IF THE SIGN IS IN THE BRACKET, AND THE EXPONENT IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BRACKET, THEN IT WILL EQUAL 4.

(-2)^2 = 4. Because the sign is still in the bracket, the exponent takes EVERYTHING inside the bracket. If the sign is NOT IN THE BRACKET, the exponent will ONLY TAKE THE VARIABLE / NUMBER.

ie.

-2^4 -> - (2 x 2 x 2 x 2) = -16

(-2)^4 -> (-2 x -2 x -2 x -2) = 16

Careful though, because (-2)^3 = -8. -> (-2 x -2 x -2) -> (4 x -2) -> (-8).

Thanks and have a good day

 

[Aspect]

I think everyone on jailbreak could really use this...

 

[ReX]

Omg you made a forum post about this stupid question smh

 

[mouse pouch]

Omg you made a forum post about this stupid question smh

yes

 

[Kagato]

Parentheses save lives!

https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=-2^2

 

[Dafoe]

This question Jebaited, it was a fun debate to watch for the amount of time it went on for

 

[Cian]

Oh I completely forgot about that even though I only learnt it a few years ago, I must’ve still been tired

 

[redchance]

-2^2 would be -4 unless the -2 is in parenthesis. Not saying I'm an expert on this but I'm essentially an expert on this. #designengineer

And if I'm wrong, theres a strong likelihood for people to die because I apply this concept on a near daily basis. Nobody has died yet, so I'm pretty confident I have it right.

 

[redchance]

Now if you have x^2 and have x=-2 this would in fact be 4

 

[dryden]

its at most 4 and at least -4

 

[ih]

foor

 

[uwu uwu]

If you square root -4 its 2i, if you square root 4 its positive or negative 2. The answer to -2^2 is in fact 4.

 

[webby]

If you square root -4 its 2i, if you square root 4 its positive or negative 2. The answer to -2^2 is in fact 4.

The math does not make sense in this response.

The sq root of 4 is positive OR negative -> 2 x 2 OR (-2) x (-2) -> not both at the same time.

You're evaluating the question wrongly. The only thing that defines whether the answer is -4 or 4 is BRACKETS.

The - sign before the 2 in -2^2 is considered as a SUBTRACTION. Order of operations states that you do exponents before subtracting, so you would LEAVE THE SIGN OUT OF THE EQUATION.

For people who think (-2^2) is different from -2^2, you're wrong, you're literally just adding brackets to the outside of the equation, which leaves the math the EXACT same, so (-2^2) = -4.

NOW, if you were to put brackets around JUST THE -2, it would = positive 4, because the EXPONENT WOULD BE TAKING EVERYTHING INSIDE THE BRACKETS, INCLUDING THE NEGATIVE SIGN, AND SQUARING IT.

(-2)^2 = (-2) x (-2) = 4.

Whenever this problem comes up in Jailbreak, and people start arguing about it in chat, please do not further the argument because it usually becomes very toxic. Instead, just send a link to this forum post, and let them discuss it here (although I literally just explained it twice in detail.)

Thank you.

 

[Matrix]

This has been a question since pG
if you say -4 you're saying -2^2 = -(2^2)
if you say 4 you're saying -2^2 = -2 * -2
All about parenthesis but just writing -2^2 = -4

https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1847834/is-a-negative-number-squared-negative

 

[3dsam1]

Well, unless you do (-2) then the negative applies to the 2 after all the equations work out, so yes it would be -4 and the answer 4 can be correct, just only at a 6th grade level math

 

[RedDragonKnight]

It's basically -1*2^2. Exponent happens first before the multiplication.

 

[kuantum]

no normal person looks at -2^2 and says it's -4.

Oh BuT Due To tHIS Rule ABouT PEMdas It's ActUaLlY -4!

 

[webby]

kuantum

but that's exactly why it's -4....................................................