Positive or Negative? The Sign of a Power

(−3)² or −3²: is it the same number? And can you tell the sign of (−2)⁵ without writing out its five factors? A power of a negative number is a product of negative factors, and the exponent counts them: an even exponent gives a positive power, an odd exponent a negative power. The brackets decide which number is the base: (−3)² = 9, but −3² = −(3²) = −9. Worked example: (−2)⁵ = −32 and (−10)⁴ = +10 000, sign first, then value. Then your turn: (−2)⁴ and −2⁴. Timestamps: 0:00 — With or without brackets 0:52 — What decides the sign? 1:41 — Sign of a power 2:06 — Sign, then value 2:45 — Your turn 3:18 — Let's remember 🎓 Free interactive lesson: https://commeunjeu.org/cours/ib-myp-3... ▶️ The whole series “Exponents”:    • Exponents   🎵 Music: "Ever Mindful" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...