What is the answer???

[ECBW]

What would you say the answer to this math question is? 16 or -16?


-2^4, or -2 to 4th power.


Came across this when helping my kids with homework.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

You can google search questions like that. Makes it easy for us who can't remember back that far to highschool math class. The answer is -16. Got to love google search.

 

[OvertheHenHouse]

Just cheated and searched and it looks like it's -16 - but don't quote me cuz I cheated

 

[fuzziebutt]

Cheating is the only way I could answer it!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

-2 x -2= +4.

+4 x -2 = -8

-8 x -2 = + 16.

So, positive 16.

 

[Southernbelle]

I think 16, so I asked my DH who's an engineer and math genius and he agreed with me.

-2 to the 4th
-2 x -2 = 4
4 x -2 = -8
-8 x -2 = 16

 

[Southernbelle]

Great minds, RP!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

WAIT. HOLD THE PHONE.

Does order of operations matter in this one?


If it were written this way (-2)^4, it would be +16.

But, if it's not, then it is -16.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
On both counts!!!!!

I called in my husband who's also an engineer on this one! haha!

 

[fuzziebutt]

Did anyone else read the thread about the X's getting blurry, and the humming and the voices? This does it too!