Evaluate -3 to the fourth power

Question

I am trying to evaluate -3 to the fourth power.  What would the answer be, -81?

Answer 1

Note that:
when a minus ( a number with minus sign) multiplies with a minus ( another number with minus sign), it results in a number when positive sign.

 

Now, Solve this: -3 to the fourth power means we are multiplying -3 four times.

Therefore,

 

(-3)^ 4 = -3 * -3 * -3 * -3

            =  9 * -3 * -3

            = -27 * -3

            = 81

 

Hence answer is 81 and not -81.