Exercise 6 Page 323

The expression (- 8)^2, or - 8 to the second power, can be written as the product of two - 8 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.

(- 8)^2

Rewrite

Rewrite (- 8)^2 as (- 8)* (- 8)

(- 8)* (- 8)

MultNegNegTwoPar

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

8* 8

Multiply

Multiply

64

Using a calculator, we can either enter (- 8)^2 or 8* 8. Both expressions give us the same answer.