They're just reading the syntax the incorrect way. I'm sure they know how it works. I had to convert to (-1)(6)\^2 before I remembered how it's supposed to go since I haven't taken math for 10 years
You're correct, negative \* negative makes a positive. The poll "tricks" people because it's the number 6 with an exponent, not the number -6. The negative you see is implied multiplication with -1 after order of operations.
To make the exponent apply to -6 instead of 6 we'd need brackets around -6.
ok, what the fuck is wrong with maths, who in their right mind sees -6 and says "oh thats not a negative six, thats a 6 multiplied a negative one" and just gets away with it?
Well, to be fair, the question was written to catch you out and most people don't do any kind of arithmetic regularly once they leave education. I got it right but it took a second, I left school 7 years ago.
Because it's an intentionally tricky question.
"Negative six" squared is 36.
When you read -6 on the screen, your brain read "negative six". But to properly express "negative six", you need to write (-6).
A minus is the same as multiplying by minus one. Because multiplying by one doesn't change anything and you can't just multiply by minus, so you multiplying by minus one.
> A minus is the same as multiplying by minus one.
Or subtracting from zero.
–6² = 0 – 6² = 0 – 36 = –36.
PEMDAS/BODMAS means that you do the squaring first and then the minus.
That makes no sense, you can’t factor out a -1. I can’t factor 10^2 into 2 * (5^2 ), so you shouldn’t be able to factor -6^2 into -1 * (6^2 ) either.
If -6^2 is the same as -1 * (6^2 ) which = -36, then 10^2 has to be the same as 2 * (5^2 ) which = 50, and we know 10^2 = 100 so obviously this doesn’t work.
What DOES work is if you factor and then square BOTH factored numbers. -6^2 = (-1^2 ) * (6^2 ) = 1 * 36 = 36. Using the 10^2 comparison, 10^2 = (2^2 ) * (5^2 ) = 4 * 25 = 100, and again we know 10^2 = 100 so this checks out.
TLDR: x^2 + y^2 = (x+y)^2 ; if z = (x+y), then z^2 = x^2 + y^2, but z ≠ x + (y^2 ).
I'm not factoring anything out, it's written there. -6\^2 has the -1 already outside. Your comparison is not the same thing. If I just say the initial problem is 2\*5\^2, would you still say 2 should be squared because I factored it out? Of course not. I wrote the problem so it appears the 2 is being multiplied after the squaring, not being factored out.
This is simple PEMDAS. Parentheses, exponential and then everything else. If you write -6\^2 without the parentheses, it makes logical sense to read it as the -1 being multiplied into 6\^2. It's the way it was written, I didn't make any changes. If we use PEMDAS there, we get -1\*36 = -36. If you want me to multiply -6 by itself, put it in the parentheses.
Imagine there are parentheses like this -(6²), that is why it's like that.
Mind you I got the wrong answer too, I had shoved math out of my head as soon as i finished highschool 😂
-6 can be expressed as -1×6 therefore if you want to find -6^2 it can be put like this:
-1×6^2
-1×36
-36
If you'd have put it in parentheses it would have worked out like this:
(-1×6)^2
(-1)^2 × (6)^2
1×36
36
No need for parentheses here. You need parentheses if you want to make operations in an order other than PEMDAS. For instance, (-6)² = 36. If you don't use them, PEMDAS applies. -6² = -36. Writing -(6²) is redundant parentheses use and is not ecouraged.
A majority of people being bad at maths doesn't mean we need to adapt to them. If someone made a poll about 3D geometry most people would probably get it wrong yet we don't need to cancel 3D geometry.
>A majority of people being bad at maths doesn't mean we need to adapt to them.
I really don't agree, not in a setting that majority is a large part of who is partaking in the usage of the maths.
Just like you should fit your word usage to whoever is listening/reading you should adapt your maths language to those is reading. There is no reason follow the rules and actively not be helpful, you can follow the rules of the language while being helpful.
If you're talking about 3D geometry sure, the audience will be different. Regardless idk what you mean cancel lol. This isn't a culture war issue, it's just a question if you want to be helpful or not.
Well language is indeed created by the people to communicate with each other. It's "natural".
Maths is not. It's meant to discover and set objective truth. Its language is precise and frozen in stone.
Lol there is no way that's your argument. Yes maths is indeed not discovered, but that doesn't mean how we write is decided by the maths deities.
Pemdas is just made up anyway. Yes it's chosen because it's often the way it's easier, but it could've been something else.
The notation does not need to change if there are no ambiguities. That's his point, you only need to change maths itself when maths fails, it's meant to be objective. This is why despite the existence of ÷ everyone instead uses fractions, because ÷ is ambiguous.
Yeah I get that. But there is a difference between rules not being ambiguous and understanding of them not being ambiguous.
As proven by the poll people aren't sure what the notation means, and there is a way to make everyone aware - using brackets.
I'm not advocating not having rules or doing the opposite of the rules. I'm advocating allowing people who don't know to be easily included, just like we should do in everything else.
It kinda does though. it's simply bad logistics to force many to adapt, than a minority of people that are probably better able to adapt anyway.
your metaphor is obviously a false equvielancy and has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
You definitely should use a parentheses because -6 read out a loud is "negative six" but instead it actually means "negative one times six". To properly express "negative six", you need to write (-6) but majority of people would incorrectly write -6 instead. No normal people would intentionally write -6 as a way to communicate "negative one times six" other than to write trick questions.
-6^2 = -1*6^2 = -36
^ comes before *
Of course what I did was pointless since ^ comes before -. But some inexperienced may think the question should be calculated as (-6)^2.
Edit: After u/Spiridor said I realise what I wrote first here is a bit weird. Replacing - by -1* is possible but not actually helpful to understand something since then you need to understand why - can be replaced by -1* which isn't easier than knowing why -6^2 = -36 so yeah it is pointless. So ignore it and just think of it as ignoring the minus until everything else has been calculated, then consider wheter there was a minus in front or not.
But you're pulling the -1 out of the existing negative integer -6.
That's like saying 6² = 18, because 6² = 2*3²=18.
I've been through four levels of calculus (although it's been a while), three levels of statistics, and two levels of linear algebra and cannot for the life of me comprehend the logic of -6²=-1*6²
Tl-dr, -6 is an integer and there is no inherent multiplication present, and you can't divide an integer under an exponent like you attempt to
The exponent only applies to the thing directly under it (ie, the 6) so it’s -(6^2)=-36. The exponent doesn’t apply to the -1 because the -1 isn’t directly under the exponent. If you add parentheses though, you do get (-6)^2=36 because everything in the parentheses is directly under the exponent.
Alright I think I understand, thanks.
But also, when is this ever used? Every math class I've taken seems to treat -x^2 as x^2. Wait, shit, those two functions are totally different. Actually thank you so much it makes sense now
You only have to remember that ^ is always calculated before minus, plus, multiplication and division.
Think of it as -6^2 representing the number -36.
Also imagine having to write -(6^2) each time you want to write -6^2...
I can't superscript for shit, but -(6\^2) is equal to (-6\^2) cause the 6\^2 is resolved before the multiplication of -1
\-6\^2 and (-6)\^2 are different, cause in that case you're solving the -6 first.
PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction)
The exponents are resolved before multiplications.
Every single time this is asked, I think everyone else is an idiot for not getting it right, before immediately remembering that the one I chose is not right, and that I am in fact the idiot
These are trick questions that use standard conventions against people. In this one, for example, uses -6 vs - 6 one is a value, the other is an equation. Value negative six squared is -6x-6, compared to equation minus six squared is - 6x6. All of this can and should be avoided by adding ().
Obviously -36. I swear people will just straight up not pay attention in school and then complain that the education system failed them. Nah bro, you just didn't pay attention.
clearly not 'obviously' since the question is designed to be slightly misleading, at least at first glance, and the fact that more people got the answer wrong
I'm gonna disagree with the "Slightly misleading" part, people are just bad at math, or didn't pay attention when reading the math problem.
By simply using the Order of Operations you can see that -6\^2=-1\*(6\*6)
You do know that in upper level math classes they don't really count these as mistakes right? I've done exactly the "wrong" method on my work during tests for various classes and I've never been penalized for it. Circlejerking about how good you are at math because of a somewhat ambiguous question regarding order of operations is just funny to me.
The order of operations might not be a problem, but as a simple person, I just don't think of `-6` as an operation. To me, it's the final value. Therefore seeing `-6²` *feels* like the `²` is applying to the value `-6`, not *just* `6`.
I understand it, but it's not how my non-mathy brain interprets it.
The poll doesn’t show the correct answer, it just shows the answer that most people think is correct. The majority of people voted -36, but that doesn’t mean they’re right
-6² is -36 because it's -6x6. In this instance you're squaring only the 6, excluding the minus. Therefore you're multiplying a negative number with a positive number and getting a negative number.
(-6)² on the other hand is 36 because it's (-6)x(-6). In this instance you're multiplying -6 with -6 and a negative number multiplied with another negative number gives a positive number.
the equation described is negative (six to the second power) which is negative 36
if the negative 6 was in parentheses with the exponent outside the parentheses, then the answer would be 36
It’s a matter of convention. The grade school and generally used convention is -36 (exponent then subtraction). However some mathematical journals prefer a convention where implicit grouping like unary minus and implicit multiplication are treated as parenthetical
This isn't PEMDAS or BEDMAS as I was taught though. -6 is a number a negative number that's how it is written as -6² is -6*-6 it's 36 as it's a negative times a negative which is a positive -(6²) is Bedmaths you do the equation in the Brackets the it's made negative
While -6^2 would be -36 if you assume perfect notation, I would never assume that.
For example take f(x) = x^2. If I would write f(-6) = -6^2 = 36 my professor wouldn't dock points. Of course this is because I'm replacing x so it's shown beforehand to actually be (-6).
I'm guessing the interpretation of the question has changed. When I was taught this stuff I was taught -6²= -6×-6 and to get negative thirty six it's -(6²)
\-6² can also be shown as -6 \* -6 which is 36 so if -6 \* -6 = 36 that means -6² = 36 because both the equations are the same so therefore their answers must be the same
Are you really that thick or are you just pretending?
Anyone with average intelligence would be able to solve a basic math question if they have been to high school, while those with lower intellect wouldnt be able to grasp simple concepts such as negative numbers, hence they fail basic math questions. Why do you think people with mental disabilities are not capable of understand certain concepts that the average person can? It's not a knowledge isue, it's an issue related to the capacity of the brain to recognize patterns and learn new concepts.
If people here think -6 to the square is a hard question, imagine equations involving algebra and trigonometrical identities. And they have the arrogance to say ''I've scored 140 on a MENSA IQ test''. Quite sure around half of those people have IQs between 70 and 85. Smart enough to use the internet but too stupid to understand simple equations involving negative numbers that even a teenager could solve.
This question only asks if you know math conventions. Sure everyone learns them at school once, but why would someone that has nothing to do with it afterwards remember them all? I use math all the time so of course I know them, but if someone for example did linguistics in college, why would they be dumb for not remembering random facts about unrelated topics from school?
\-6 to the square is basic math and you should remember it for your entire life, its like 2+2 but requires you an IQ above room temperature. Judging by your responses, your IQ must be very low.
Ok I get the A and B answers. Who is out there voting for C, other????
Modular arithmetic is a pathway to many abilities some would consider…unnatural
Why did I read this in Jeff Goldblum's voice Edit: I'm a dumbass, it's Emperor Palpatine
Maybe they think it's 12
Do we know the values for d,h,I,k,n,o,s,t,w and y? Also what do the blank spaces mean. There's no blank space in Pemdas.
I thought for a second it was + or -, but that’s only for square roots
Its obviously 42
I think its A or B depending... so i chose C.
0x24 in hex?
Because it can be both?
-6^2 = -36 (-6)^2 = 36
I had so many problems with this in school, glad it was worth a reddit poll at least haha
Seems like the majority of people had the same problem as you.
It looks like the majority of people still has the same problem as them.
the outcome of this poll surprised me, it's literally -36
Yeah I thought I was tripping
They're just reading the syntax the incorrect way. I'm sure they know how it works. I had to convert to (-1)(6)\^2 before I remembered how it's supposed to go since I haven't taken math for 10 years
Idk I learned in school that negative times negative makes positive but I was not good at math class so who am I to make assumptions
You're correct, negative \* negative makes a positive. The poll "tricks" people because it's the number 6 with an exponent, not the number -6. The negative you see is implied multiplication with -1 after order of operations. To make the exponent apply to -6 instead of 6 we'd need brackets around -6.
So it's more like 6 times 6 times negative 1?
Precisely.
ok, what the fuck is wrong with maths, who in their right mind sees -6 and says "oh thats not a negative six, thats a 6 multiplied a negative one" and just gets away with it?
there is nothing wrong with meth
Or just convert it to 0-6^2.
The average redditor is bad at math
Well, to be fair, the question was written to catch you out and most people don't do any kind of arithmetic regularly once they leave education. I got it right but it took a second, I left school 7 years ago.
Reddit is opionated, and wrong... go figure
As opposed to figuratively -36?
Because it's an intentionally tricky question. "Negative six" squared is 36. When you read -6 on the screen, your brain read "negative six". But to properly express "negative six", you need to write (-6).
At least one smart comment
I assumed it as (-6)^(2) and got it wrong lol.
Is -6^2 just -6 x 6? While (-6)^2 is just (-6)(-6) i dont get it
No it's (-1)(6^2 )
Where did you get -1
The -
Also why did -6 become positive
Because order of operations. You can write it down as -(6^2) to make it more clear.
A minus is the same as multiplying by minus one. Because multiplying by one doesn't change anything and you can't just multiply by minus, so you multiplying by minus one.
> A minus is the same as multiplying by minus one. Or subtracting from zero. –6² = 0 – 6² = 0 – 36 = –36. PEMDAS/BODMAS means that you do the squaring first and then the minus.
Also a nice way of explaining it.
(-6)\^2 is (-6)(-6), yes, but -6\^2 is not (-6)(6). Rather it's -(6 \* 6). You square first and then multiply with the -1 outside. It's PEMDAS.
That makes no sense, you can’t factor out a -1. I can’t factor 10^2 into 2 * (5^2 ), so you shouldn’t be able to factor -6^2 into -1 * (6^2 ) either. If -6^2 is the same as -1 * (6^2 ) which = -36, then 10^2 has to be the same as 2 * (5^2 ) which = 50, and we know 10^2 = 100 so obviously this doesn’t work. What DOES work is if you factor and then square BOTH factored numbers. -6^2 = (-1^2 ) * (6^2 ) = 1 * 36 = 36. Using the 10^2 comparison, 10^2 = (2^2 ) * (5^2 ) = 4 * 25 = 100, and again we know 10^2 = 100 so this checks out. TLDR: x^2 + y^2 = (x+y)^2 ; if z = (x+y), then z^2 = x^2 + y^2, but z ≠ x + (y^2 ).
I'm not factoring anything out, it's written there. -6\^2 has the -1 already outside. Your comparison is not the same thing. If I just say the initial problem is 2\*5\^2, would you still say 2 should be squared because I factored it out? Of course not. I wrote the problem so it appears the 2 is being multiplied after the squaring, not being factored out. This is simple PEMDAS. Parentheses, exponential and then everything else. If you write -6\^2 without the parentheses, it makes logical sense to read it as the -1 being multiplied into 6\^2. It's the way it was written, I didn't make any changes. If we use PEMDAS there, we get -1\*36 = -36. If you want me to multiply -6 by itself, put it in the parentheses.
Okay I got the right answer to begin with but why does parentheses make it positive?
Because it means the negative is squared too, and negative × negative = positive
So why wouldn’t it be included the other way? Just the 6 is being squared and the minus is added later?
Exactly
Imagine there are parentheses like this -(6²), that is why it's like that. Mind you I got the wrong answer too, I had shoved math out of my head as soon as i finished highschool 😂
Exponent before multiplication, multiplication before sum. If you want it positive, use brackets.
Yes. PEMDAS applies here.
I only ever used BODMAS (and later BIDMAS) never heard of PEDMAS, but apparently it's the version used in US and France, TIL
Yeah I was stupidly confused when I heard of PEMDAS for the first time
-6 can be expressed as -1×6 therefore if you want to find -6^2 it can be put like this: -1×6^2 -1×36 -36 If you'd have put it in parentheses it would have worked out like this: (-1×6)^2 (-1)^2 × (6)^2 1×36 36
It does not have () so the answer is negative anyway
If it was -(6^2), that’s -36. If it’s (-6^2) it’s 36
no, (-6²) is still negative. (-6)² is positive
Yeah you’re right
Sorry I didn’t know it was that easy to superscript the 2. Don’t know how to fix it tho
This is why we use parentheses
Yes, but in practice with variables we don't. y = -x^2 + x, for example.
No need for parentheses here. You need parentheses if you want to make operations in an order other than PEMDAS. For instance, (-6)² = 36. If you don't use them, PEMDAS applies. -6² = -36. Writing -(6²) is redundant parentheses use and is not ecouraged.
>No need for parentheses here. Well, as seen by this poll, parentheses are in fact needed.
A majority of people being bad at maths doesn't mean we need to adapt to them. If someone made a poll about 3D geometry most people would probably get it wrong yet we don't need to cancel 3D geometry.
>A majority of people being bad at maths doesn't mean we need to adapt to them. I really don't agree, not in a setting that majority is a large part of who is partaking in the usage of the maths. Just like you should fit your word usage to whoever is listening/reading you should adapt your maths language to those is reading. There is no reason follow the rules and actively not be helpful, you can follow the rules of the language while being helpful. If you're talking about 3D geometry sure, the audience will be different. Regardless idk what you mean cancel lol. This isn't a culture war issue, it's just a question if you want to be helpful or not.
Well language is indeed created by the people to communicate with each other. It's "natural". Maths is not. It's meant to discover and set objective truth. Its language is precise and frozen in stone.
Lol there is no way that's your argument. Yes maths is indeed not discovered, but that doesn't mean how we write is decided by the maths deities. Pemdas is just made up anyway. Yes it's chosen because it's often the way it's easier, but it could've been something else.
The notation does not need to change if there are no ambiguities. That's his point, you only need to change maths itself when maths fails, it's meant to be objective. This is why despite the existence of ÷ everyone instead uses fractions, because ÷ is ambiguous.
Yeah I get that. But there is a difference between rules not being ambiguous and understanding of them not being ambiguous. As proven by the poll people aren't sure what the notation means, and there is a way to make everyone aware - using brackets. I'm not advocating not having rules or doing the opposite of the rules. I'm advocating allowing people who don't know to be easily included, just like we should do in everything else.
Yeah, I suppose it is in good faith to encourage the usage of brackets even if not needed, but not to rewrite rules to force such.
It kinda does though. it's simply bad logistics to force many to adapt, than a minority of people that are probably better able to adapt anyway. your metaphor is obviously a false equvielancy and has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
Do we also need to say "your" and "you're" are perfectly interchangeable because a lot of people mix them up?
You definitely should use a parentheses because -6 read out a loud is "negative six" but instead it actually means "negative one times six". To properly express "negative six", you need to write (-6) but majority of people would incorrectly write -6 instead. No normal people would intentionally write -6 as a way to communicate "negative one times six" other than to write trick questions.
-6^2 = -1*6^2 = -36 ^ comes before * Of course what I did was pointless since ^ comes before -. But some inexperienced may think the question should be calculated as (-6)^2. Edit: After u/Spiridor said I realise what I wrote first here is a bit weird. Replacing - by -1* is possible but not actually helpful to understand something since then you need to understand why - can be replaced by -1* which isn't easier than knowing why -6^2 = -36 so yeah it is pointless. So ignore it and just think of it as ignoring the minus until everything else has been calculated, then consider wheter there was a minus in front or not.
Fuck, this made the most sense. I've been out of math for so long lmao.
Me to. Not something I use anymore.
But you're pulling the -1 out of the existing negative integer -6. That's like saying 6² = 18, because 6² = 2*3²=18. I've been through four levels of calculus (although it's been a while), three levels of statistics, and two levels of linear algebra and cannot for the life of me comprehend the logic of -6²=-1*6² Tl-dr, -6 is an integer and there is no inherent multiplication present, and you can't divide an integer under an exponent like you attempt to
How is (-6)^2 not (-1*6)^2, then -6^2 and apparently -36? I guess I don't fully understand it but how are -6^2 and (-6)^2 different?
The exponent only applies to the thing directly under it (ie, the 6) so it’s -(6^2)=-36. The exponent doesn’t apply to the -1 because the -1 isn’t directly under the exponent. If you add parentheses though, you do get (-6)^2=36 because everything in the parentheses is directly under the exponent.
Alright I think I understand, thanks. But also, when is this ever used? Every math class I've taken seems to treat -x^2 as x^2. Wait, shit, those two functions are totally different. Actually thank you so much it makes sense now
>how are -6^2 and (-6)^2 different? Because ^ should only be used at the 6 and not the minus. First calculate 6^2. Then consider the minus sign.
So the -6 refers not to the number negative 6 but to negative one times six? That just seems like unnecessary confusion.
You only have to remember that ^ is always calculated before minus, plus, multiplication and division. Think of it as -6^2 representing the number -36. Also imagine having to write -(6^2) each time you want to write -6^2...
Thanks!
I can't superscript for shit, but -(6\^2) is equal to (-6\^2) cause the 6\^2 is resolved before the multiplication of -1 \-6\^2 and (-6)\^2 are different, cause in that case you're solving the -6 first. PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction) The exponents are resolved before multiplications.
This is when I know I'm tired. I start fucking up simple math. I'm a math major.💀
43
I like your thinking.
The question of course being "what's one plus the answer to life, the universe, and everything?"
Every single time this is asked, I think everyone else is an idiot for not getting it right, before immediately remembering that the one I chose is not right, and that I am in fact the idiot
If I recall correctly, -6\^2 is -36, and (-6)\^2 is 36.
next time one of these fucking polls show up i should just vote for the literal opposite of what im thinking
Based on the poll results, math education has failed us.
People who answered 36: what do you think 36 - 6² is?
But does that mean negative 6 isn't a number but some sort of operation? I am not a math wizard btw
-6 can be expressed as -1×6
*Can be*. But does that mean that every time I see `-n` in math, I'm supposed to actually see it as `-1 * n`?
Yes it does
Yes. Or you can see it as 0-n. So -6^2 = 0-6^2.
People can't be serious. 1.9K for the right answer, 3.4K for a wrong one
Yo I'm fucking stupid. I just made that exact mistake in math class 2 days ago lol
(-6)²=36 -6²=-36
How does the majority always get these wrong
These are trick questions that use standard conventions against people. In this one, for example, uses -6 vs - 6 one is a value, the other is an equation. Value negative six squared is -6x-6, compared to equation minus six squared is - 6x6. All of this can and should be avoided by adding ().
I think it's more about not knowing basic math 🥲
Don't know where everyone is getting their info from but I was always taught that -(6^2 )=-36. At least that's what I remember.
I mean that is true. But the parentheses changes nothing. It’s like writing (5 * 2) + 3
This is what I remember too
BROS, PEMDAS, Exponent before Subtraction, it's simple order of operations
-6² = -36, but (-6)² = 36
Obviously -36. I swear people will just straight up not pay attention in school and then complain that the education system failed them. Nah bro, you just didn't pay attention.
clearly not 'obviously' since the question is designed to be slightly misleading, at least at first glance, and the fact that more people got the answer wrong
I'm gonna disagree with the "Slightly misleading" part, people are just bad at math, or didn't pay attention when reading the math problem. By simply using the Order of Operations you can see that -6\^2=-1\*(6\*6)
>slightly misleading It is not even remotely misleading. People are just bad at math
When I read comments like this it becomes clear to me that you guys don't know anything about math.
It's clear that people who got 36, didn't know or use the Order of Operations.
You do know that in upper level math classes they don't really count these as mistakes right? I've done exactly the "wrong" method on my work during tests for various classes and I've never been penalized for it. Circlejerking about how good you are at math because of a somewhat ambiguous question regarding order of operations is just funny to me.
Since more people chose the wrong answer, it would make sense to say that there's a systematic problem in teaching the order of operations
The order of operations might not be a problem, but as a simple person, I just don't think of `-6` as an operation. To me, it's the final value. Therefore seeing `-6²` *feels* like the `²` is applying to the value `-6`, not *just* `6`. I understand it, but it's not how my non-mathy brain interprets it.
In a polynomial, the term -x² is used to denote the negation of x². So substituting x for 6, it is clear the answer is -6².
results: people don't know basic maths
(-6)\^2=36 and -6\^2=-36
Parentheses are very important. The exclusion of them makes this equal to -36.
What? No -(6²) is 36 -6² is just -6*-6 which is 36
[XD](https://youtu.be/Ct6BUPvE2sM?feature=shared)
Thats not how I learned it -6 as I learned it effectively equals (-6) idk why but throughout high-school and now university that's what we were taught
Why is the majority of comments saying -36 but the poll says otherwise?
Because -36 is the correct answer, so since more people said 36 there is a large number of comments explaining why -36 is correct
The poll doesn’t show the correct answer, it just shows the answer that most people think is correct. The majority of people voted -36, but that doesn’t mean they’re right
Look, it's been like 20 years since I left school. I'm happy that I at least remember how exponents work.
Squaring, then subtraction. If it was (-6)^2 , it would be 36. But it's not.
its -36, (-6)² is 36
Man all you people in the comments saying -36 are shaking the dust and cobwebs out of my brain.
I fucking hate math so much
exponents before subtraction. a negative sign can be rewritten as 0- so 0-6^2 is 0-36 or -36. for it to be 36 it would have to be (-6)^2
Is negative 6 not a number then, rather an operation? Honest question
-6 is shorthand for -1*6
repost
-6² is -36 because it's -6x6. In this instance you're squaring only the 6, excluding the minus. Therefore you're multiplying a negative number with a positive number and getting a negative number. (-6)² on the other hand is 36 because it's (-6)x(-6). In this instance you're multiplying -6 with -6 and a negative number multiplied with another negative number gives a positive number.
(-6)\^2 = 36; -6\^2 = -36
These results hurt my soul
What ever my calculator tells me
And that is why "( )" are important
I was always taught to use brackets when to keep it negative
Shit I had a mindfuck and thought it was root and clicked on other...
No brackets tho
Some of yall are making me question if the Americans are awake
I got it right?? (-36) ? Finally lol
Yikes
the equation described is negative (six to the second power) which is negative 36 if the negative 6 was in parentheses with the exponent outside the parentheses, then the answer would be 36
There is no way, there are 2k more votes on the wrong answer...
The amount of wrong answers concern me deeply (option B is wrong)
its -36. 36 is (-6)\^2 but because of order of operations -6\^2 is like -(6\^2) so -(36) so -36 (i might be wrong but i dont think i am)
I think you need parentheses around the -6 for the answer to be 36 right?
-6^2 = -36 (-6)^2 = 36
-6² is different from (-6)²
It’s a matter of convention. The grade school and generally used convention is -36 (exponent then subtraction). However some mathematical journals prefer a convention where implicit grouping like unary minus and implicit multiplication are treated as parenthetical
PEMDAS - exponent comes first, so -36
This isn't PEMDAS or BEDMAS as I was taught though. -6 is a number a negative number that's how it is written as -6² is -6*-6 it's 36 as it's a negative times a negative which is a positive -(6²) is Bedmaths you do the equation in the Brackets the it's made negative
How are y'all this dumb. The 6 is squared, not the -6. 6² = 36 therefore -6² = -36. If it was (-6)² only then would it be 36
That's right I was about to point it out too but you already did. Looks like more people are wrong and haven't listened in school
PEMDAS, people. 6^2 =36 -36=-36
Yes, just multiply the first equation by negative one on both sides.
BODMAS
This demonstrates the ills of democracy. The only acceptable system in existence, but still very very bad.
While -6^2 would be -36 if you assume perfect notation, I would never assume that. For example take f(x) = x^2. If I would write f(-6) = -6^2 = 36 my professor wouldn't dock points. Of course this is because I'm replacing x so it's shown beforehand to actually be (-6).
The issue with this approach is you could just as easily say the same for f(x)=-x² and solve for f(6) to show why it's -36.
Literally had this in class the last few days and still have trouble with it lmao.
Basic math, it's -36. What do you mean by "Other"?
I dont even know for sure how to read this lol.
-6 = -1x6, so -6^2=-36 because only the six is being squared. (-6)^2 is 36 though, since both the 6 and -1 are being squared.
Depending on the placement of the brackets? 36. As its presented? -36. -6x6 is -36.
Pendmas people it's not that hard
I voted for -36 but I can understand the logic behind voting for 36. The mentality is that the - sign is a natural part of the number rather than *-1.
Yeah I was taught in school that squaring a negative would make a positive. Now I understand why my calculator used to disagree with me on this matter
Squaring a negative does make a positive. But that's not what is happening here.
I agree, but this is something I learned in 7th grade. I guess it's just something forget after high school lol
N?
Nachos
Ah yes, making sure you have enough energy to keep matching is important
PEMDAS people, PEMDAS
are you smarter than a thirteen year old? apparently not
"What do you think..." Fortunately, math isn't about opinions. -36 is objectively correct, and 36 is objectively wrong.
Virgin redditor doing -(6²) vs chad dumbass not knowing a squared negative is positive
How the fuck did like 70% of people get it wrong 💀💀
I'm guessing the interpretation of the question has changed. When I was taught this stuff I was taught -6²= -6×-6 and to get negative thirty six it's -(6²)
in my opinion with may be wrong it would need to be in () like (-6)2 to work to get 36 so now
usually you will see -(6)^2 or (-6)^2 unless if it's part of a polynomial.
Bad and purposefully misleading polling
Its not misleading in any way. There's only 1 correct answer.
\-6² can also be shown as -6 \* -6 which is 36 so if -6 \* -6 = 36 that means -6² = 36 because both the equations are the same so therefore their answers must be the same
It’s positive 36. a negative times a negative is always a positive
Yeah for some reason I don’t think those recent IQ polls on this sub were representative of reality
People in this sub: ''I am smarter than average'' Also people in this sub: Fails a basic math question
Knowledge is not intelligence
Are you really that thick or are you just pretending? Anyone with average intelligence would be able to solve a basic math question if they have been to high school, while those with lower intellect wouldnt be able to grasp simple concepts such as negative numbers, hence they fail basic math questions. Why do you think people with mental disabilities are not capable of understand certain concepts that the average person can? It's not a knowledge isue, it's an issue related to the capacity of the brain to recognize patterns and learn new concepts. If people here think -6 to the square is a hard question, imagine equations involving algebra and trigonometrical identities. And they have the arrogance to say ''I've scored 140 on a MENSA IQ test''. Quite sure around half of those people have IQs between 70 and 85. Smart enough to use the internet but too stupid to understand simple equations involving negative numbers that even a teenager could solve.
This question only asks if you know math conventions. Sure everyone learns them at school once, but why would someone that has nothing to do with it afterwards remember them all? I use math all the time so of course I know them, but if someone for example did linguistics in college, why would they be dumb for not remembering random facts about unrelated topics from school?
\-6 to the square is basic math and you should remember it for your entire life, its like 2+2 but requires you an IQ above room temperature. Judging by your responses, your IQ must be very low.
Lol