Positive and negative answers :S (1 Viewer)

[Liv Catherine]

Hi
I am a little bit confused about when answers are supposed to be negative or positive.
I know that when (-x) is squared, it is always positive, but what about when it is not squared, but cubed etc. Will the answer still be positive?
EG:
(-x)^8 = ?
(-x)^3 = ?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Shadowdude]

Expand what they mean.



and





And if you want - so you can clear all confusion - prove the general case:



(that is, -x to an even power)

and



(that is, -x to an odd power)

 

[Absolutezero]

If -x is to the power of an even number, it's positive.

If -x is to the power of an odd number, it's negative.