How do you evaluate the power $(-0.8)^2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-10-19T03:54:10

Multiply $-0.8 xx -0.8$

The answer is + .64

The exponent $x^2$ means to multiply the x by itself. Or to multiply the number by itself

In this case the x = -0.8 so

$-0.8 xx -0.8$ = the evaluation of $(-0.8)^2$

$- xx - = +$ so the answer is positive not negative.

$.8 xx .8$ = .64

so the answer is + .64

Another way of looking at the problem is to write it as a fraction.

$- 8/10 xx - 8/10$ = $( - xx - ) xx ( 8 xx 8)/ (10xx10)$ This gives

$+ 64/100$ as a decimal this is + 0.64

How do you evaluate the power (-0.8)^2(-0.8)^2?