Exercise 20 Page 323

The expression (- 1)^6, or - 1 to the sixth power, can be written as the product of six - 1 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 even power will result in a positive result.

(- 1)^6

Rewrite

Rewrite (- 1)^6 as (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)

(- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)* (- 1)

MultNegNegTwoPar

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

1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 1

IdPropMult

Identity Property of Multiplication

1

Using a calculator, we can either enter (- 1)^6 or 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 1. Both expressions give us the same answer.