Chapter 1: Problem 46
Evaluate. $$ (-1)^{5} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The result of \((-1)^{5}\) is \(-1\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Expression
The expression given is \((-1)^{5}\). This means that we have raised the base \(-1\) to the power of 5.
02
Understand the Concept of Exponents
An exponent denotes repeated multiplication. Thus, \((-1)^{5}\) translates to multiplying five instances of \(-1\) together: \((-1) \times (-1) \times (-1) \times (-1) \times (-1)\).
03
Multiply in Pairs
Let's multiply the first pair: \((-1) \times (-1) = 1\). Repeat for the next pair: \((-1) \times (-1) = 1\). Now we have the expression \(1 \times 1 \times (-1)\).
04
Final Multiplication
Multiply the remaining numbers: \(1 \times 1 = 1\), and finally, \(1 \times (-1) = -1\).
05
Conclusion
After evaluating the multiplication, the final result of \((-1)^{5}\) is \(-1\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Multiplication
Multiplication is a basic arithmetic operation, but it plays a significant role in understanding exponents. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you grasp the concept better.Think of multiplication as repeated addition. For example, when you multiply 2 by 3, it is the same as adding 2 three times: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. When it comes to exponents, multiplication serves as the foundation, because raising a number to a power indicates you should multiply the base by itself multiple times.To tackle the expression \((-1)^{5}\), start by understanding that it signifies five instances of multiplying \(-1\) with itself. Sequentially multiplying these numbers involves understanding the product of pairs or groups, breaking down complex multiplications into more manageable steps.Some simple tips to remember:
- Any number times 1 remains unchanged (e.g., 7 \(\times\) 1 = 7).
- Multiplying two negative numbers results in a positive product (e.g., \(-2 \times -3 = 6\)).
- Multiplying a negative number by a positive number results in a negative product (e.g., \(-5 \times 2 = -10\)).
Negative Numbers
Negative numbers can sometimes seem tricky, especially if the rules are not clear. But with a few basic principles, you can master their multiplication and use in exponents with ease.In the expression \((-1)^{5}\), it is important to understand what happens when you multiply negative numbers together:
- Multiplying two negative numbers results in a positive number. For example, \(-1 \times -1 = 1\).
- Multiplying a positive number by a negative number yields a negative result, such as \(1 \times -1 = -1\).
- When multiplying an odd number of negative numbers, the result will be negative. In \((-1)^{5}\), you're multiplying it an odd number of times, leading to a negative outcome.
Power Rule
The power rule is an essential concept in mathematics that makes dealing with exponents straightforward and systematic. It’s essentially about multiplying a number by itself a certain number of times, dictated by the exponent.For example, given \((-1)^{5}\), consider the rule that tells us how to work with powers. When a base is raised to a power, it means you multiply the base by itself as many times as the exponent indicates. The general guidelines for using the power rule include:
- An exponent of 0 will always yield 1 (e.g., \(a^{0} = 1\) provided \(a\) is not zero).
- An exponent of 1 is the number itself (e.g., \(a^{1} = a\)).
- For negative numbers with odd exponents, the result remains negative (as demonstrated, \((-1)^{5} = -1\)).
- Negative numbers with even exponents yield positive results, such as \((-1)^{4} = 1\).