Question

Haley’s work evaluating (Negative 2) Superscript 8 is shown below.

(Negative 2) Superscript 8 = (negative 2) (negative 2) (negative 2) (negative 2) (negative 2) (negative 2) (negative 2) (negative 2) = negative 256

Which statement best describe Haley’s first error?

Answer 1

the answer is D

Explanation:

Answer 2

D

Explanation:

The statements are shown below:

A) She used the wrong number as a repeated factor and should have evaluated -2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2.

B) She used the wrong number as a repeated factor and should have evaluated -(8x8).

C) She misinterpreted the exponential form and should have multiplied -2 and 8.

D) She made a sign error when multiplying and should have had 256 as a final answer.

Solution:

The problem to simplify is:

`(-2)^(8)`

Haley's steps are shown below:

`(-2)^(8)=(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)=-256`

Generally,

`(a)^b` is actually "a" multiplied "b" times.

So, Haley wrote "-2" eight times multiplied together. That is okay.

Now,

We are dealing with negative numbers.

• When negative numbers are multiplied "odd" number of times, the answer is negative.
• When negative numbers are multiplied "even" number of times, the answer is positive.

Haley wrote "-2" eight times, which is EVEN number of times, so the answer would be POSITIVE. But, Haley's answer is negative. Which is wrong. But "256" is right.

Haley's error is:

Answer choice D