Question

What is the value of (a + b)2
when a = 2/3 and b = -2?

I know once you plug it in it looks like: (2/3 + -2)^2
I am not sure how to solve after this, please help.

Answer 1

think of -2 as -2/1

so you really have 2/3 - 2/1

how can you get the 2/1 to have a denominator of 3?

Answer 2

Multiply top and bottom by 3?

Answer 3

correct

Answer 4

so -2/1 turns into -6/3

Answer 5

`2/3 - 2/1` becomes `2/3 - 6/3`

what comes next?

Answer 6

Subtract 2 by 6 giving -4. Then (-4)^2 would be -16??

Answer 7

2/3 - 6/3 = (2-6)/3 = -4/3

so we now have (-4/3)^2

don't forget the 3 down below

Answer 8

Oh right, so what's next?

Answer 9

(-4/3)^2 = (-4/3)*(-4/3) = ???

Answer 10

I don't know ):

Answer 11

up top we have -4 times -4 = 16

down below we have 3 times 3 = 9

Answer 12

(-4/3)*(-4/3) = 16/9

Answer 13

Ohhhhh! That makes sense now, thank you so much!!

Answer 14

no problem