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February 27th 2009, 06:02 PM
jkami

Find x

Find $-x^2$ when x=2

Is it 4 or -4?
February 27th 2009, 07:22 PM
mr fantastic

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkami

Find $-x^2$ when x=2

Is it 4 or -4?

Are you asked to find (-x)^2 or -(x^2)? Which of these do you think -x^2 would mean?
February 27th 2009, 07:22 PM
manjohn12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkami

Find $-x^2$ when x=2

Is it 4 or -4?

$-x^2 = -(x^2)$ by associative law. Thus we have $-(2^2) = -4$ .
February 27th 2009, 08:00 PM
DengXiang

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkami

Find $-x^2$ when x=2

Is it 4 or -4?

Initially,do the $2^2$ ,which equates to 4.
Thereupon,you can espy that $-x$ is a negative one.

Thereby, ultimately you compute $,-x$ times 4= -4

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