I need help with an exponentiation problem

Question

I have to solve this:

3h × (-h² )

When I tried it, I got 3h³ as a result, yet the answer key says it should be -3h³ I don't understand why 3 becomes negative.

My logic was the following: -h² is the same as h² (because negative multiplied by negative equals positive). Therefore the problem becomes 3h × (h² ) and that is the same as 3 × h × h² We can add the exponents and get h³. Therefore the answer is 3h³. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

The negative sign is NOT included in the square function

You have 3h*(-h²) NOT 3h*(-h)²

Answer 2

If the negative sign appears outside of the parenthesis, the book answer is correct; if the negative sign appears within the parenthesis, your answer is correct.