Question

Im having a little trouble in math, math in particular. Its a small question, and I feel like I kinda know it, but heres an example question:

(-2)4 (the four is the exponent)

Answer 1

What does it mean when you say "to the 4th power" ?
It means

(the number) x (the number) x (the number) x (the number) .

OK. In your example, "the number" is -2 . So go to work . . .

(-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) = what ?

Work with it for a minute or two. You should get ( positive 16 ).

Answer 2

An exponent is saying to take the base number (here, it's -2), and multiply it my itself that number of times.

So, (-2)⁴ = (-2) * (-2) * (-2) * (-2)
= 4 * (-2) * (-2)
= -8 * (-2)
= 16

If the negative sign were outside the parentheses instead, then the solution would be 2⁴ (which is 16), then negative (so, -16). But in the this case the negative is inside the parentheses.

Hope this helps! :)