PLEASE help me with this simple problem. Me and my friend have been arguing for over an hour.

I argue that -5^2 = 25.
He argues that -5^2 = -25.

Who is correct?

Question

PLEASE help me with this simple problem. Me and my friend have been arguing for over an hour. 

I argue that -5^2 = 25. 
He argues that -5^2 = -25. 

Who is correct?

anonymous · Answer

Your friend.

mathmate · Answer

-5^2=-25
(-5)^2 = 25
It all boils down to the priority of operators.

lgbasallote · Answer

$$(-5)^2 = 25$$
howeer..
$$-5^2 = -25$$

lgbasallote · Answer

lol beat me to it

anonymous · Answer

Wow.. Really? So -5^2 IS NOT -5*-5?

mathmate · Answer

Probably by a nanosecond!!  :)
But great minds think alike!

lgbasallote · Answer

nope

lgbasallote · Answer

-5^2 = -(5 * 5)

anonymous · Answer

I'm almost positive I've always learned differently, but thank you guys!

lgbasallote · Answer

the exponent is only for 5. the negative sign is not raised

mathmate · Answer

... unless parentheses are present.

anonymous · Answer

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