Section 1.1 : Integer Exponents
1. Evaluate the following expression and write the answer as a single number without exponents.
\[ - {6^2} + 4 \cdot {3^2}\] Show SolutionThere is not really a whole lot to this problem. All we need to do is the evaluations recalling the proper order of operations.
\[ - {6^2} + 4 \cdot {3^2} = - 36 + 4 \cdot \left( 9 \right) = - 36 + 36 = \require{bbox} \bbox[2pt,border:1px solid black]{0}\]Be careful with the first term and recall that,
\[ - {6^2} = - \left( {{6^2}} \right) = - \left( {36} \right) = - 36\]If we’d wanted the minus sign to also get squared we’d have written,
\[{\left( { - 6} \right)^2} = 36\]Always remember to be careful with exponents. The only thing that gets the exponent is the number/term immediately to the left of the exponent. If we want to include minus signs on numbers with exponents then we need to add in parenthesis.