Question

What does (-2)^2 equal? I'm a bit lost in the beginning :(

Answer 1

Squaring a number is just multiplying it by itself.

Answer 2

yea but is it different from -2^2 is what I wanted to ask actually

Answer 3

Yes it is your question has brackets (-2)^2 that's quite different to -2^2 because you aren't squaring the - sign.
See -2^2 = -4 (you are just squaring the 2 and leaving the sign)
Whereas (-2)^2 you are counting the - sign.
Understand so far?

Answer 4

Yes sorry I was brb
So (-2)^2 would be 4?

Answer 5

Yeah you've got it :)

Answer 6

thanks :D