Exercise 2 Page 293

The expression (-2)^5, or -2 to the fifth power, can be written as the product of five -2 terms. Note that when multiplying two negative numbers, we obtain a positive number. (- a)(- a) = a* aThis means that any real negative number raised to an odd power will result in a negative result.

(-2)^5

Rewrite

Rewrite (-2)^5 as (-2)* (-2)* (-2)* (-2)* (-2)

(-2)* (-2)* (-2)* (-2) * (-2)

MultNegNegTwoPar

(- a)(- b)=a* b

4*4*(-2)

Multiply

Multiply

16*(-2)

MultPosNeg

a(- b)=- a * b

-32

Using a calculator, we can either enter (-2)^5 or -2*-2*-2*-2. Both expressions give us the same answer.