Learn with Mentor · 8 min
Powers with Negative Bases
Evaluate powers with bracketed negative bases by using the even and odd exponent sign rule, and distinguish (-3)^2 from -3^2.
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The sign depends on the count
When a negative base is in brackets, the exponent tells how many negative factors are multiplied. An even number of negative factors pairs up to make a positive result; an odd number leaves one negative factor unpaired.