Question

What is the difference between these two terms?
(Question Below)

Answer 1

Hurry i got lunch man

Answer 2

What is the difference between \( a^2 \) and \(a_2\)?

Answer 3

Do it treat them the same when factoring?

Answer 4

a^2 is a to the power of 2 or a squared. a2 is a times 2.

Answer 5

a^2 is a*a. a2 is a*2.

Answer 6

yes...lets say a = 3
if u have a^2 it would be 3 x 3
it u have a2 it would be 3 x 2.

Answer 7

Ah i see thanks guys :)

Answer 8

Exactly | ) Robocop smiles on your deeds

Answer 9

lolz XD
thats a good one XD

Answer 10

Thanks i usually make emojis and ascii in my free time

Answer 11

Wait are you guys saying that \(a_2\) is the same as \(a2\) or \(a_2\)??
I know that \(a2\) you would multiply...

Answer 12

Opps i added an extra sorry Xp

Answer 13

@undeadknight26

Answer 14

hmm i have no idea what that is in this sense..i would have thought it was a2...but i guess it could be something else...i cannot think what it is though...sorry mate!

Answer 15

Here i will show you specifically:

Answer 16

I just want to know what to do with that reversed looking coefficient

Answer 17

@Zarkon might know

Answer 18

Or @whpalmer4 Or @jim_thompson5910

Answer 19

\[a^2 \text{ (written a^2) } = a*a\]
\[a_2 \text{ (written a_2) } = \text{ 2nd term in series or sequence } a_1,a_2,a_3,...a_n\]

typically "a2" does not mean \(a*2\) as convention is to write the coefficient in front of the variable

Answer 20

In the example given here:\[a_2 = 2(2)^2-1 = 7\]this is clearly from a series of terms defined as \[a_n = 2n^2-1\]to find \(a_1\) you substitute \(n=1\), \(a_2\) substitute \(n = 2\), etc. \[a_5 = 2(5)^2-1 = 49\]etc.

the notion that a variable's name can have another variable in it is initially confusing to many!

Answer 21

Wow thanks again @whpalmer4 !
Once again you are the best math help on Openstudy :D
Thanks for explaining that to me :)