57.1k views
2 votes
IF a - 2 is - 2 what is the answer of ' a raise to power of 2'

User Xierui
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

7 votes
A-2=-2

Add 2 to both sides to isolate and solve for a
A=0

A rule of exponents is if 0 is raised to any positive power it is 0. If it is raised to a negative power it is undefined (I will explain at the end of this.) since we know a is 0 and 0 to the power of 2 is 0 the answer it his question is 0.

Here I explain why 0 raised to a negative power is undefined.
For example 0 to the -2 power is the same as 1/0^2 (raising a number to the negative power is the same as raising the same numbers reciprocal to the positive power). 1/0^2=1/0 which is undefined. This applies for any negative power to 0.
User Adam Hassan
by
7.5k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories