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Exponent and division

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Exponent and division [#permalink] New post 12 Nov 2009, 19:38
Hi,

This is a question from Manhattan foundation of math

-2^3/2

as we have a division operation, so the sign should be negative and we subtract exponents (3-1)

so we are left with - 2^2 which is equal to 4

However, in the book (the correct answer) is -4

they did: -2^3 = -8/2 = -4

I understand their way, but what is wrong with what I did?
Obviously, I did something wrong cause I didn't get the same answer...

Thanks,
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Re: Exponent and division [#permalink] New post 12 Nov 2009, 20:44
MontrealLady wrote:
Hi,

This is a question from Manhattan foundation of math

-2^3/2

as we have a division operation, so the sign should be negative and we subtract exponents (3-1)

so we are left with - 2^2 which is equal to 4

However, in the book (the correct answer) is -4

they did: -2^3 = -8/2 = -4

I understand their way, but what is wrong with what I did?
Obviously, I did something wrong cause I didn't get the same answer...

Thanks,


The numerator in the question is -2 and denominator is +2. what you have done is subtracted exponents of different bases.
It should be - [ (-2)^ (3-1)] = - [(-2)^2] = -[+4] = -4
hope this helps
Re: Exponent and division   [#permalink] 12 Nov 2009, 20:44
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