(8 March 2011) Chapter 4: Algebra... Which is larger?

Jennifer says, "5x2  is always smaller than  (-5x)2. "

Do you agree? Explain your answer. 
Enter your response in Comments.

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25 comments:

  1. No, - x -=+ So that imagine the x is gone so the one that is 5x = -5x and -5x = 5x

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  2. No. X can be a negative number so it is not always the case where 5x^2 is larger.

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  5. No, if x has a negative value, (-5x)^2 can be of greater value than 5x^2.

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  6. 5x^2 = 25x
    (-5X)^2 =25
    (Assuming x is positive number.
    No. It is because when -5x is squared, the number with negative sign are multiplied by itself, which means that negative number multiplied by negative number must give a positive number, and positive number multiplied by positive number must also give a positive number, thus, the two numbers are of the same value.
    But for some cases, x can also be a negative number so it could be the other way round from what Jennifer said in which 5x^2 is bigger. So Jennifer is wrong.

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  7. Yes, she is correct. 1st eg.5(2)^2=20. (-5(2))^2=100
    2nd eg. 5(-2)^2=5(4)=20 (-5(-2))^2=100

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  8. No, I do not agree. That is because if X is a negative number so 5X^2 will become a negative and then it will be a smaller number than the other one.

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  9. No. X can be a negative number. Even if its not a negative number, assuming that both x's are the same, you can remove it.

    5 to the power of two is EQUAL to the -5 to the power of two.

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  10. No as X could be a negative number.5X^2 will become a negative and then it would be smaller than the other one.

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  11. No it will always be the same because -5^2 is equal to 5^2

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  12. No. x can be any number and it will still be equal.
    If it is a negative number, it would change the first expression to negative before it is squared but after its squared it becomes positive.
    If it is a positive number the second expression would be negative before it is squared but after its squared it also becomes positive.

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  13. No. they are both 25x^2 when simplified

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  14. No, as negative times negative is equals positive, so it should be equal.

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  15. No X can be a negative number so 5x^2 would be come negative number thus, smaller than (-5x^2)

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  17. No.I do not agree. If x is 2 then 5x^2 is equal to 100 but (-5x)^2 is equal to 100. This is because x in both equations is the same whether it is positive or negative.

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  18. No, both of the above equations are equal.

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  19. Dawn

    No.
    Lets take the first example as x = 10.
    (5x)^2= 2500
    (-5x)^2=2500.They are equal, thus "(5x)^2" is not smaller than "(-5x)^2".

    The second example, lets take x=15
    (5x)^2=1125
    (-5x)^2=5625
    In this case, (5x)^2 is indeed smaller than (-5)^2

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  20. No, x could be a negative number and (assuming x is -1)5x^2 would be equal to (-5x)^2.

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  21. Assuming that x is 2.
    [(5)(2)]^2 = 100
    [(-5)(2)]^2 = 100

    Assuming that x is -2.
    [(5)(-2)]^2 = 100
    [(-5)(-2)]^2 = 100

    I do not agree. [(5)(2)]^2 and [(-5)(2)]^2 have the same value, just like [(5)(-2)]^2 and [(-5)(-2)]^2.

    5x^2 is not always the same as (-5x)2.

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  22. Yes, as if x=2, 5(x^2) is actually 5x4=20 but for the other (-5x)^2, it will give 100 which is more than the 5x^2

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  23. E U G E N E V O O3/08/2011 11:31:00 AM

    No she is wrong as -*- is positive as well as +*+.

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  24. No, I don't. Both sum 's answer is the same.

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