compare -2^4 and (-2)^4

Question

is -2^4 and (-2)^4 equal?

Answer 1

-2^4
= - (2^4) {the negative of 2^4}
= -16 {only the 2 is to the fourth power, not the negative sign}

(-2)^4
= (-2)(-2)(-2)(-2) {multiplying -2 by itself four times}
= 16 {the negative sign and the 2 were to the fourth power}
Ask algebrahouse.com