23.2k views
4 votes
Could -2 be used as a base to rewrite 32? 64? Why or why not?

User Akash Pal
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

6 votes
Since a base means that a value can be to the power of something to equal another number, we can try with -2. (-2)^1=-2, (-2)^2=4, (-2)^3=-8, (-2)^4=16, (-2)^5=-32, and  (-2)^6=64. If a value (x) to the power of something (y) is equal to something (z), then x cannot be to the power of any number to equal -z unless x is -1. Therefore, since x=/ -1 in this case, -2 cannot be a base of 32 but it can be for 64
User Locomotion
by
7.9k points

No related questions found