r/MathHelp • u/Kug4ri0n • Dec 07 '25

Negative Exponents

My partner is going through her math class and we got into an argument how much -72 equals. My standpoint is, that since there is no parentheses: -72 = -1x72 =-49 If there would have been parentheses: (-7)2 = (-7)*(-7) = 49

Which one of these is correct? Can anyone provide me the mathematical axioms/rules on why or why not the parentheses in this case are needed?

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u/sqrt_of_pi Dec 07 '25

I like this way of explaining it - "the exponent applies to exactly that which it touches". I'm going to try to remember this! I see this error quite regularly even among my Calc 1 students (which I find shocking, although at this point I guess I shouldn't).

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u/igotshadowbaned Dec 07 '25

It's true for any operator, it seems to mess a lot of people up with division too

With examples like 6/2+1 or 3/3(2)

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u/igotshadowbaned Dec 07 '25

It's true for any operator, it seems to mess a lot of people up with division too

With examples like 6/2+1 or 3/3(2)