How do you simplify −452?

1 Answer
Jim H
Apr 1, 2015

−452 is the same as 0−452. The exponent applies only to the 4, not to the minus sign.

−452=−(452)=−(2√45)=−(25)=−(32)=−32

Perhaps I should add, regarding the negative sign:

−32 does not mean "the square of negative 3" It means "the negative of the square of 3.#

Mathematics is harder to speak than it is to write. Spoken language can be ambiguous. What does "negative 3 squared" mean or "the negative of 3 squared"?

−32=−(32)=−(9)=−9

(−3)2=(−3)⋅(−3)=9

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