Please settle an argument

[Crg96]

I'm working through homework with my twin boys and have a bit of a mental block. Xyz squared is the question, no brackets used

Using x =-3 y= 2 and z=-4

Is the answer

-3 x 2 x -4 = 24 then squared would be 24 x 24 = 476 or

-3 x 2 x (-4 x-4) = -96

Or perhaps neither....

 

[Deleted member 4993]

I'm working through homework with my twin boys and have a bit of a mental block. Xyz squared is the question, no brackets used

Using x =-3 y= 2 and z=-4

Is the answer

-3 x 2 x -4 = 24 then squared would be 24 x 24 = 476 or

-3 x 2 x (-4 x-4) = -96

Or perhaps neither....

I am assuming you meant x instead of X.

If that is correct, then:

If by "xyz squared" you meant (xyz)² then (using PEMDAS):

(xyz)² = [(-3) * (2) * (-4)]² = [(-3 * 2) * (-4)]² = [(-6) * (-4)]² = [24]² = 576

If, however, by "xyz squared" you meant xyz² then (using PEMDAS):

xyz² = (-3) * (2) * (-4)2 = -6 * 16 = -96

So now you choose....

 

[Crg96]

I am assuming you meant x instead of X.

If that is correct, then:

If by "xyz squared" you meant (xyz)² then (using PEMDAS):

(xyz)² = [(-3) * (2) * (-4)]² = [(-3 * 2) * (-4)]² = [(-6) * (-4)]² = [24]² = 576

If, however, by "xyz squared" you meant xyz² then (using PEMDAS):

xyz² = (-3) * (2) * (-4)2 = -6 * 16 = -96

So now you choose....

Thank you

 

[Ishuda]

I'm working through homework with my twin boys and have a bit of a mental block. Xyz squared is the question, no brackets used

Using x =-3 y= 2 and z=-4

Is the answer

-3 x 2 x -4 = 24 then squared would be 24 x 24 = 476 or

-3 x 2 x (-4 x-4) = -96

Or perhaps neither....

My take on the question but it is not guaranteed to be correct. I would assume your first example (Xyz)². First because there are no spaces and second it is not unusual for punctuation to be omitted in informal discussions (which I assume this is). If it were a formal discussion/stated problem, I would ask (depending on circumstances).

Edit to add example: For example, you will often see something like x+7/x+9 here on the forum when what is formally meant is \(\displaystyle \frac{x+7}{x+9}\)

 

[lookagain]

Xyz squared is the question, no brackets used

Using x =-3 y= 2 and z=-4

Or perhaps neither....

Crg96, other than it should have been "xyz squared," you pointed out (my emphasis) " no brackets used."

So, that leads me to think it was \(\displaystyle \ xyz^2.\)