Question

Write using exponents. (–4)(–4) A. -4^2 B. (2)^-4 C. (-4)^2 D. 2^-4

Answer 1

Remark

Using brackets, as the question has, each of the minus signs is part of the 4. That means you have 2 minus signs in total. They are multiplied together.

Two minus sign's = a plus.

Argument

D is wrong.

The power is not made minus. That would be an entirely different problem. The power and the base have been interchanged. So D has 2 mistakes.

B is also wrong for the same reason.

The power and base have been interchanged. The fact that there are or are not brackets does not make any difference.

A is wrong.

There is only one minus sign given. That cannot happen when there were two to start with.

Answer C.

The two minus signs are preserved. The 2 as a power affects both minus signs.

$(-4)^{2}$ affects both of them.

Answer 2

That expression can be rewritten as (-4)^2 or choice C.