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What is the difference between (-2)^6 and -2^6 power? I know the first one is 64 and the second one is -64.

User Ecnalyr
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The first answer is in positive and the second one is negative
User Deshan
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9514 1404 393

Answer:

The treatment of the minus sign is different.

Explanation:

An exponent signifies repeated multiplication. According to the order of operations, exponentiation is done first, before any multiplication or subtraction.

(-2)^6 = (-2)·(-2)·(-2)·(-2)·(-2)·(-2) = 64

-2^6 = -(2·2·2·2·2·2) = -64

User Brian Ramsay
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