Question

How do you simplify `-4^2`?

Answer 1

`-16`

Explanation:

Given: `-4^2`.

It's very easily to confuse this with `(-4)^2`. Just remember that `-a^2!=(-a)^2` with all `ainRR,CC`.

This is the same thing as writing:

`-(4^2)`

`=-16`

Alternatively, we can use `bb(PEMDAS)` to figure this out, as exponents will go first. Then, we just add a negative sign in front of the number. Also evaluates to `-16`.