Question

How do you simplify `-4^(5/2)`?

Answer 1

`-4^(5/2)` is the same as `0-4^(5/2)`. The exponent applies only to the `4`, not to the minus sign.

`-4^(5/2)=-(4^(5/2))=-(root(2)4^5)=-(2^5)=-(32)=-32`

Perhaps I should add, regarding the negative sign:

`-3^2` 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"?

`-3^2= -(3^2)=-(9) = -9`

`(-3)^2 = (-3)*(-3) = 9`