Flashcard 8 - Numbers and Operations Flashcard Set for the Math Basics

Remember the difference between \(-3^2\) and \((-3)^2\). An exponent only applies to the number it directly follows, so it applies to just the 3 in the first case and to everything in the parentheses in the second case. In the first case, \(-3^2=-(3)^2=-9\). In the second case, \((-3)^2=(-3)\cdot(-3)=9\).