Question

Write using exponents.

(-4)(-4)

Answer 1

-4
thats 4 to the 2nd power

Answer 2

exponents are a "short-cut"
because it gets tiresome to write
example 2*2*2*2*2
instead, count how many times a thing is multiplied by itself.
here, the 2 is multiplied by itself 5 times. so we write 2^5

in your problem, how many times is -4 multiplied by itself?

Answer 3

2 Times?

Answer 4

yes,
so 2 is the exponent
you write
\[ (-4)^2 \]
notice you need the parens because
\[ -4^2 \]
is different.
\[ -4^2 \text{ means } -1 \cdot 4 \cdot 4 \]

Answer 5

Oh okay then. cool. =)