How should I treat -x^2?

[geramul]

From what I understand there's a difference of opinions when it comes to this. Some people look at it as -(x^2) and others -x^2. Both give different answers which is why I'm asking what should I do when I have something like in front of me?

[stapel_eliz]

From what I understand there's a difference of opinions when it comes to this. Some people look at it as -(x^2) and others -x^2. Both give different answers which is why I'm asking what should I do when I have something like in front of me?

There is no difference between "-x²" and "-(x²)"; they mean the same thing.

[geramul]

Wouldn't -x² mean -x * -x which would result in a positive? Compared to -(x²), for the sake of this lets say x is 2. So -(2²) = -(4) = -4.

[stapel_eliz]

Wouldn't -x² mean -x * -x...?

No; "-x²" means "the negative of the square of x", or "-[(x)(x)]". On the other hand, "(-x)*(-x)" means "the square of negative x", or "(-x)² = (-1)(-1)(x)(x) = (+1)(x²) = x²".

In other words, the minus of the square does NOT equal the square of the minus; -(x²) = -x², but (-x)² = +x².

[geramul]

Ah ok. Thanks .