Quick distributing question

[pinkcalculator]

If I'm solving this problem:
-(2x+1)^2, do I distribute the negative first, or do I square it first??
I keep running into this kind of situation when finding the f(x).

 

[Mrspi]

If I'm solving this problem:
-(2x+1)^2, do I distribute the negative first, or do I square it first??
I keep running into this kind of situation when finding the f(x).

- (2x + 1)[sup:3j5585vf]2[/sup:3j5585vf]

Remember the order of operations:

Parentheses or other grouping symbols
Exponents
Multiplication and Division in order from left to right
Addition and Subtraction in order from left to right

Finding the opposite of something is the same as multiplying that something by -1....so we could think of your problem as

-1 * (2x + 1)[sup:3j5585vf]2[/sup:3j5585vf]

Follow the order of operations..............