Question

Analyzing Student Work
Maude evaluated the expression (32)–3.

1. 32 • (−3)

2. 36

3. 729

Analyze Maude’s work. Is she correct? If not, what was her mistake?
Yes, she is correct.
No, she should have added the exponents instead of multiplying.
No, her exponent should be a negative value
No, when evaluating 36, she should have found the product of 3 and 6.

Answer 1

No — her exponent should be negative.

Reason: (3^2)^{-3} = 3^{2·(−3)} = 3^{−6} = 1/3^6 = 1/729. Maude ended with 3^6 = 729, so she lost the negative sign on the exponent.