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.

(- 4)^3

Rewrite

Rewrite (- 4)^3 as (- 4)* (- 4)* (- 4)

(- 4)* (- 4)* (- 4)

MultNegNegTwoPar

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

(- 4) * 4 * 4

Multiply

Multiply

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