College Algebra CLEP Prep Practice Exam

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Prepare for the College Algebra CLEP Test with our comprehensive practice exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering clues and detailed explanations. Achieve your best score and excel in your exam!

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What is the value of -3^2?

–9
9
-27
27

The correct answer is: -27

While it may seem like the answer should be 9 since the exponent is even, the negative sign in front of the 3 indicates that it should be treated as a negative number. This means that -3^2 is equivalent to (-3)^2, which is equal to 9. However, when the negative sign is placed after the exponent, it is applied to the entire exponent, making it (-3)^2, which is equal to -9. Therefore, the value of -3^2 is actually -9. The other answer choices do not take into account the negative sign in front of the 3. For example, 9 would be the answer if the question was 3^2, but since the base is -3, the answer is -9 rather than 9.