How do you simplify #(- 5) * ( - 5) 2#?

2 Answers
Nov 27, 2017

I'm not sure if you meant to write #(-5) * (-5)^2# or #(-5) * (-5)# times 2, so I'm going to solve both.

Explanation:

If you meant #(-5) * (-5)^2#:

First, we know that #(-5)^2 = (-5)(-5) = 25#

#-5 * 25 = -125#

If you meant #(-5) * 2(-5)#:
#-5 * -10 = 50#

Nov 27, 2017

Presuming your question is #(-5)(-5)^2#
the answer is #-125#

Explanation:

The problem asks you to compute the product of two quantities.
One is the amount #(-5)^2#
According to the rules for the Order of Operations,
solve the exponents first.

The "squared" symbol applies only to the #(-5)# that it is touching,
so #(-5)^2# is solved this way:

. . . .#(-5)^2#  
. . . . ╱ ╲
#(-5) (-5)#
. . . .╲ . ╱
. . . #+ 25#

Now the problem is
#(-5)(25)#

That product is #-125# #larr# answer

Answer:
#-125#
............................

In the unlikely event that the problem is
#(-5) (-5) (2)#

Solve the problem step-by-step

#(-5) xx (-5) xx (2)#
. . . . ╲     ╱
. . . . . . .#25#. . . . . . #xx (2)#
. . . . . . . . .╲          ╱
. . . . . . . . . . . . #50# #larr# answer

Answer:
#50#