Question

This is weird. Why is it that every time I square -1, I get -1 but when I do -1*-1 on my calculator it comes out as 1. Is there something wrong with my calculator.

Answer 1

\[-1^2 = -(1)^2 = -(1) = -1\\\text{and}\\(-1)^2=(-1)(-1) = 1\]put this into your calculator
\[(-1)^2\]

Answer 2

in general
\[-a^b \ne (-a)^b\]unless b is odd

Answer 3

Oh I get it nm. Omg ur awesome!

Answer 4

-a=-1*a

Answer 5

np