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Posted: 8/21/2014 5:14:55 PM EDT
The wife and I are having a difference of opinion on how to evaluate a particular equation.  The kids are using Saxon math this year and they teach them to evaluate the equation: -3 squared + 4 = -5.  They treat the negative at the front of the equation as a separate item, so they say you should evaluate the 3 squared first, giving you 9, then make it a negative, giving you -9, and then add 4, giving you a total of -5.  



Eta: problem is written as -3^2 + 4 = x. What is x?
As you can see, there are no parenthesis.



The way I was taught was that if a negative number was at the beginning of an equation, and it didn't have a parenthesis around  the number so that it looked like -3 squared, then you should treat it as the equivalent of -3 times -3, thus giving you 9.  Therefore, I was taught to evaluate -3 squared + 4 = 13.  It would be the equivalent of (-3 times -3) + 4 = 13.  Now, if I saw - (3 squared) + 4, with the parenthesis around the 3 squared, then I would evaluate that as -5 since the 3 squared would be done first, then a negative applied.

So.... which is right?

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:17:12 PM EDT
[#1]
You are right, the negative is not treated as a separate item.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:18:44 PM EDT
[#2]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
You are right, the negative is not treated as a separate item.
View Quote


Correct. Answer is 13.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:18:49 PM EDT
[#3]
Violates operator precedence in that presentation.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:20:06 PM EDT
[#4]
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:20:08 PM EDT
[#5]
-3^2 + 4 = 13

-(3^2) + 4 = -5
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:20:40 PM EDT
[#6]

Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Violates operator precedence in that presentation.
View Quote
seriously.

 



what are they teaching these days
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:20:45 PM EDT
[#7]
-(3^2) + 4 = -5
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:21:03 PM EDT
[#8]
If NASA every successfully launches another rocket, lessons like that will cause them to fly it into Cuba
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:21:46 PM EDT
[#9]
-3^2+4 = -5

(-3)^2+4 = 13

The base for the exponent 2 is 3, not -3. so -3^2 is -9
(-3)^2 says the whole -3 is the base.

You can use wolfram alpha if you want to double check
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=-3^2%2B4
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:22:17 PM EDT
[#10]
the negative sign in front of the base, 3, tells you its the opposite of 3 squared. or  -1x3^2     you square the three, multiply by negative 1.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:22:48 PM EDT
[#11]
I have no idea to be honest. I can read a tape measure though.



#JobSecurity
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:22:53 PM EDT
[#12]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
-3^2 + 4 = 13

-(3^2) + 4 = -5
View Quote



But there's no parenthesis on the first number in the equation in their books.

FWIW, if you type in -3 squared + 4 = into google and hit enter it says it's -5.  Doh...

But, if you type in (-3) squared + 4 = and hit enter, you get 13.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:23:37 PM EDT
[#13]
87


Didn't read
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:23:44 PM EDT
[#14]
4 - 3^2 = -5

(-3)^2 + 4 = 13

I would say presenting the formula the way you describe was sloppy, at best.  It might be deliberately sloppy to create some discussion in class but to me, that would be a very BAD teaching approach.

Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:24:41 PM EDT
[#15]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
the negative sign in front of the base, 3, tells you its the opposite of 3 squared. or  -1x3^2     you square the three, multiply by negative 1.
View Quote



that makes more sense.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:26:08 PM EDT
[#16]
How the hell can you have a negative amount, multiply that times another negative amount and end up with a positive result? I have been balancing my checkbook wrong all these years.....





I AM RICH BITCH
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:26:53 PM EDT
[#17]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
the negative sign in front of the base, 3, tells you its the opposite of 3 squared. or  -1x3^2     you square the three, multiply by negative 1.
View Quote

If it were -(3^2) you would multiply by negative 1. -3^2 is (-3 x -3)
Edit: at least that's how they were still teaching it when I graduated last year
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:27:33 PM EDT
[#18]
PEMDAS?
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:28:20 PM EDT
[#19]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
4 - 3^2 = -5

(-3)^2 + 4 = 13

I would say presenting the formula the way you describe was sloppy, at best.  It might be deliberately sloppy to create some discussion in class but to me, that would be a very BAD teaching approach.

View Quote



Nice way to demonstrate that saying "-3 squared + 4 = -5" is equivalent to:

0 - 3^2 + 4

which would be -5
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:29:40 PM EDT
[#20]
The way they are teaching is correct.

-3^2+4=-5

Exponents always remain negative or positive.  It won't change back and forth as you go from odd to even exponents, unless you add parenthesis.

Example

(-3)^2+5=14
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:31:25 PM EDT
[#21]
I was taught that if you wanted the result the teacher wanted, you wrote -(x2).
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:35:45 PM EDT
[#22]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
seriously.  

what are they teaching these days
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Violates operator precedence in that presentation.
seriously.  

what are they teaching these days


The teacher is correct, and it is nothing new, it is the way math has always been.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:35:55 PM EDT
[#23]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I was taught that if you wanted the result the teacher wanted, you wrote -(x2).
View Quote


Same here.  Now, it's apparently implied that is the case (at least with Saxon math).  So, if somebody asked me what -3 squared was, I'd have said 9 (-3 * -3) = 9, or I'd have asked if there were any parenthesis around the 3.  If there were parenthesis around the 3, I'd have said it was -9.  But, I can throw -3 squared in the calculator on my phone and it says -9.  Grrrr...

ETA:  From the looks of the poll it looks like a LOT of folks were taught the same way I was regarding the way to treat that -3 squared without any parenthesis at the front of the equation.  Interesting.  (or maybe they're trolling the poll, which GD has never been known for)
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:36:46 PM EDT
[#24]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



that makes more sense.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
the negative sign in front of the base, 3, tells you its the opposite of 3 squared. or -1x3^2     you square the three, multiply by negative 1.



that makes more sense.

negitive ghost rider.

According to rob99rt then a negative number squared is a negative number which is impossible. A negative number squared is always a positive number.  


The base is negative.  

-3^2 =9  -(3^2)=-9

ETA: re-read your statement you are correct.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:38:05 PM EDT
[#25]
PEMDAS

If equation is written -3squared + 4, answer is 13

if equation is written - (3squared) + 4, answer is -5

All depends on how they laid out the equation.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:39:29 PM EDT
[#26]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
87


Didn't read
View Quote



I like your style.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:40:25 PM EDT
[#27]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
PEMDAS

If equation is written -3squared + 4, answer is 13

if equation is written - (3squared) + 4, answer is -5

All depends on how they laid out the equation.
View Quote


I'd agree with your assessment based upon how I was taught math, but there are no parenthesis in the equation in the book and they say -5.  Just seems odd to me.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:40:59 PM EDT
[#28]


Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



-3^2 + 4 = 13





-(3^2) + 4 = -5
View Quote


ETA:



Perhaps it's just my programming bend, but I parsed it as (-3)^2 + 4.  If you specifically want to negate the square it should be -1 * 3^2 + 4.  This my whole reason for going on random rants about the sins of implicit multiplication notation.





 
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:45:50 PM EDT
[#29]


Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



4 - 3^2 = -5





(-3)^2 + 4 = 13





I would say presenting the formula the way you describe was sloppy, at best.  It might be deliberately sloppy to create some discussion in class but to me, that would be a very BAD teaching approach.





View Quote
This. I always apply brackets liberally to avoid confusion.


 
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:48:06 PM EDT
[#30]
-5  I checked an old College algebra book I have an it said it was important to note the difference.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:51:06 PM EDT
[#31]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I have no idea to be honest. I can read a tape measure though.

#JobSecurity
View Quote



I think this is the first hashtag I've ever seen on here.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:51:32 PM EDT
[#32]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
PEMDAS

If equation is written -3squared + 4, answer is 13

if equation is written - (3squared) + 4, answer is -5

All depends on how they laid out the equation.
View Quote



In PEMDAS the E for exponent takes place before multiplication.  The negative sign in front of a exponent base basically means multiple by -1 after performing the exponent.

Both your examples are the exact same thing, the () are not needed.  The answer to both your examples is -5  to get 13 it would have to be written as (-3)^2+4=13


Wow:  I just realized 87% of GD don't know the correct answer to this 6th grade math problem.

For those interested in learning here is a link to the correct way to perform exponents:  Link

ETA: Based on OPs request BS in Mechanical Engineering.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:52:18 PM EDT
[#33]
Ok, so wife and I are talking and based upon the poll results, how would this equation be solved?

10 - 5^2 = ?

Because, based upon the poll, it would seem that folks would evaluate that as 35 (10 + 25) since the second operation would be treated as -5 * -5, thus giving a positive 25 to be added to the 10.

However, it's actually 10-25 = -15.  Therefore, it would seem based upon that, then -3^2 +4 does equal -5.

BTW, Jenny's wondering what level of math folks have completed who answered one way or another, so if you wouldn't mind ETA-ing, we'd appreciate it.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:52:57 PM EDT
[#34]
I took common core the correct answer is potato
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:56:33 PM EDT
[#35]
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:58:57 PM EDT
[#36]
Ask their math teacher.  He or she should agree with you.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:59:10 PM EDT
[#37]
I agree with you, minus three squared is positive nine.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 5:59:22 PM EDT
[#38]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Ok, so wife and I are talking and based upon the poll results, how would this equation be solved?

10 - 5^2 = ?

Because, based upon the poll, it would seem that folks would evaluate that as 35 (10 + 25) since the second operation would be treated as -5 * -5, thus giving a positive 25 to be added to the 10.

However, it's actually 10-25 = -15.  Therefore, it would seem based upon that, then -3^2 +4 does equal -5.

BTW, Jenny's wondering what level of math folks have completed who answered one way or another, so if you wouldn't mind ETA-ing, we'd appreciate it.
View Quote


10 - 5^2 = ?

10-25

-15
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:01:17 PM EDT
[#39]

Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


-3^2+4 = -5



(-3)^2+4 = 13



The base for the exponent 2 is 3, not -3. so -3^2 is -9

(-3)^2 says the whole -3 is the base.



You can use wolfram alpha if you want to double check

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=-3^2%2B4

View Quote




 
You beat me to it. I should put the OP in one of my slides for class this year.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:03:23 PM EDT
[#40]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Ask their math teacher.  He or she should agree with you.
View Quote


We're the teachers... Homeschooling.  That's the reason we want to get it right because this evaluation of the equation is just a tad important for higher math. I've got a BA in Computer Info Systems and Accounting, and Jenny's an RN.  It's just goofy that I was taught the order of operations one way and she another for the leading number of an equation if it's a negative with an exponent.  That's the hitch....
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:06:22 PM EDT
[#41]
Negative numbers are a fallacy. You can't have less than zero. "-3 X -3" = "0 X 0" = 0.  Therefore, 0 + 4 = 4.





The answer is 4.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:08:40 PM EDT
[#42]

Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Negative numbers are a fallacy. You can't have less than zero. "-3 X -3" = "0 X 0" = 0.  Therefore, 0 + 4 = 4.





The answer is 4.
View Quote




i like this answer. We would never have made it to the moon with this line of thinking, but I still like it.



 
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:10:21 PM EDT
[#43]
I was taught as you were OP.  -3^2 would be 9 and -(3^2) would be -9.  I think so long as the understanding of the underlying mathematics is there, it's fine.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:13:55 PM EDT
[#44]
And what these types of problems illustrate so well, yet always seems to be lost on so many, is that ambiguity is bad.

Don't write shit that can be easily misinterpreted. Just put some parentheses (or other accepted grouping characters) to make it absolutely clear what is supposed to be evaluated.  This is especially true when dealing with variables.

Realize that IRL, people will make assumptions about what somebody meant, and not necessarily what they wrote, when it comes to ambiguous situations like this. That is, they think "yeah, he wrote it like that, but he probably meant this instead". So even if someone were not just misinformed as to the nuances of certain mathematical syntax, they could still make the wrong call by "correcting" something that didn't need to be fixed.

So best to make it unambiguous.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:15:37 PM EDT
[#45]
If you're traveling 80 miles per hour, how long does it take to go 80 miles?
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:16:49 PM EDT
[#46]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
You are right, the negative is not treated as a separate item.
View Quote

Yep.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:17:11 PM EDT
[#47]
The way I learned math (and the last math class I ever took 11 years ago was Calc IV), the answer is 13. But now I'm second guessing myself, because I can also interpret any number as 1n. So since 1n = n and -1n = -n, in order to satisfy the equation, it must be -1(3^2) + 4 = -5.

So, OP, I voted 13; But after reconsidering, I would change my answer to -5.
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:18:40 PM EDT
[#48]
Google says -5:



Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:20:53 PM EDT
[#49]
When negative numbers are squared they are not considered real, they are considered imaginary
Link Posted: 8/21/2014 6:21:49 PM EDT
[#50]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I was taught as you were OP.  -3^2 would be 9 and -(3^2) would be -9.  I think so long as the understanding of the underlying mathematics is there, it's fine.
View Quote


I wish it was that easy, but it's not...  The way I was taught to use the exponent (if no parenthesis are present) was to multiply the negative number times itself that many times.  However, that screws you up when it's an even exponent.  So, -3^2 the way I was taught (if negative number being squared at the beginning of an equation) would give you positive 9.  However, if it was -3^3, I would have evaluated it correctly as -27.  So, -3^1, -3^2, -3^3, -3^4 would have evaluated the way I was taught to be -3, 9, -27, 81.  However, it's in reality -3, -9, -27, and -81, respectively.  So, I was taught it incorrectly according to a lot of things on the web.  Funny thing is, I made A's in math in HS, so either I didn't hit that many problems like this or the text books had problems like this computed incorrectly.
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