Question

Algebra 1 Help for Younger Sister?

Part of the question reads 'Ava simplified the expression and said that the value was -1'
The rest of it is here: http://i60.tinypic.com/e5qt93.jpg

Please explain step-by-step for us on how you got the answer!

Answer 1

Yes, how Ava did it was correct. When she takes out the -, (aka -1), this sets up the parenthesis on the numerator and denominator as equal to each other, and after that they cancel out, leaving the -1 in the denominator, so the answer is -1.

Answer 2

when you square a number (or an expression), it will positive
in this case the top will be positive and the bottom will be positive.

positive divided by positive is positive. This means the answer cannot be -1

Ava forgot to square the -1 , to make it +1