If a = 3 and b = -1, what is the value of ab - b2?

Question

If a = 3 and b = -1, what is the value of ab - b2?

Answer 1

Simply replace the variables with the values and evaluate.

 

I don't know if you meant the expression was ab - b2 or ab - b², so I will answer both ways.

 

For ab-b2, (3)(-1) - (-1)(2) = -3 - (-2) = -3 + 2 = -1.

 

For ab - b², (3)(-1) - (-1)² = -3 - 1 = -4