How do you simplify #-4^2#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-06-10T09:00:33

#-4^2=-16#

#-4^2# is just negative of #4^2# or #16#

Hence #-4^2=-16#

This is different from negative exponents (where the question was originally classified).

Negative exponent would be something like #4^(-2)#, which is equivalent to #1/4^2# or #1/16#

Answer 2 · 2016-07-23T22:41:58

#-4^2 = -16#

If this term had been in a calculation there would not have been the slightest hesitation in answering:

# 10 + 5^2 color(blue)(- 4^2)#

# = 10+25 color(blue)(-16)#

# = 35color(blue)(- 16)#

In #-4^2# there are two operations happening, subtract, and raising to a power.

Because of the rules for order of operations,PEDMAS, BODMAS, etc, the more powerful operation (squaring) has to be done first.
#-(4^2)#

#-4^2 " means: take away the answer to " 4xx4 , so -16#

#(-4)^2 " means "(-4) xx (-4) = +16#