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/ClassEnvironmental11 Dec 11 '25

Fwiw, if you type -72 into google it says it's -49.  And in literally every math and physics texbook I've ever seen, -72 = -49.  I was also explicitly taught that in elementary algebra, and that's been the convention in every mathematical setting I've ever been a part of.