Question

Select the correct answer.

What is the value of this expression when a = 2 and b = -3?
a³ - 6³
5

Answer 1

Answer: 7

Step-by-step explanation:

Substitute the given values of a and b into the expression:

(a)3 - (b)3 = (2)3- (3)3

5 5

Then evaluate the expression using the order of operations:

8- (-27) = 35/5

5

= 7

Answer 2

-208

Step-by-step explanation:

If the complete expression is a³ – 6³

then a³ – 6³ with a being equal to 2 is

(2)³ – (6)³ =

(2 × 2 × 2) – (6 × 6 × 6)

=

(4 × 2) – (36 × 6)

=

(8) – (216)

=

-208

This is done with substitution, just do the arithmetic with 2 in the place of a.