Substituting a negative integer for a variable... exponent

[zachres]

I ran across this yesterday in a Pearson intermediate Algebra text.

The problem presented in the text is in regards to graphing ordered pairs. An equation to express the relationship between the pair is given as;

y = 4 - x²

The solution requested is a graph x and y for all pairs where x is an integer from -3 to 3.

For x = -3, the author of the book substituted in this manner;

y = 4 - (-3)²

My question is; why would the substitution not be in this form; y = 4 - (-3²)?

The two methods generate different values for x². The first generates 9, and the second generates -9.

So, again, why one way and not the other?

[Martingale]

I ran across this yesterday in a Pearson intermediate Algebra text.

The problem presented in the text is in regards to graphing ordered pairs. An equation to express the relationship between the pair is given as;

y = 4 - x²

The solution requested is a graph x and y for all pairs where x is an integer from -3 to 3.

For x = -3, the author of the book substituted in this manner;

y = 4 - (-3)²

My question is; why would the substitution not be in this form; y = 4 - (-3²)?

The two methods generate different values for x². The first generates 9, and the second generates -9.

So, again, why one way and not the other?

is the same as

[zachres]

Correct, but

-3²

is not the same as

(-3)²

At least according to the text;

-3² = 9

(-3)² = -9

[stapel_eliz]

At least according to the text;

-3² = 9

(-3)² = -9

Then the text has it backwards!