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#1 2013-05-31 18:29:28
- Hostible
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- Registered: 2013-05-31
- Posts: 5
common mistake
Know that -a^2 means -1 x a^2 and not -a x -a.
The reason is that -a^2 has its coefficient as -1
Therefore -a x -a = a^2 and and not -a^2.
This symbol ^ implies exponent.
Last edited by Hostible (2013-05-31 18:30:49)
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#2 2014-10-30 22:49:24
- DeanPemberton
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- From: USA
- Registered: 2014-10-30
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Re: common mistake
Thank for explaining this exponential function here, I completely understand the equation. Here coefficient is different thing and variable is different.
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#3 2021-05-15 04:50:47
- mathland
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- Registered: 2021-03-25
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Re: common mistake
Hostible wrote:
Know that -a^2 means -1 x a^2 and not -a x -a.
The reason is that -a^2 has its coefficient as -1
Therefore -a x -a = a^2 and and not -a^2.
This symbol ^ implies exponent.
True but (-a)^2 is totally different.
We know that (-a)^2 = (-a)(-a) = a^2.
How about -(a)^2?
Let me see.
-[(a)(a)]
-(a^2)
-a^2
Agree?
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