Can anyone explain this?

[Bjh4412]

Apparently there is some distinction between -1^2 and (-1)^2. Can anyone explain why there would be two different answers?
Thanks, Blake

 

[pka]

Apparently there is some distinction between -1^2 and (-1)^2. Can anyone explain why there would be two different answers?

It is simply a matter of scope of the operators.
In \(\displaystyle -1^2 \) the \(\displaystyle ^2 \) applies to \(\displaystyle 1 \) and \(\displaystyle - \) applies to \(\displaystyle 1^2 \).

For \(\displaystyle -1 \) squared we must use grouping, \(\displaystyle (-1)^2=1 \)

 

[Bjh4412]

Thank you pka, I appreciate the help