Exercise 39 Page 558

The expression (- 4)^3, or - 4 to the third power, can be written as the product of three - 4 terms. Note that when multiplying two negative numbers, we obtain a positive number. (- a)(- a)(- a) = (- a)* a* a = - a * a * aThis means that any real negative number raised to an odd power will result in a negative result.

Using a calculator, we can either enter (- 4)^3 or - 4* - 4* - 4. Both expressions give us the same answer.