What is the square of a negative number.?

Question

What is -1 squared?

is it 1 or -1?

What is -6 squared? is it 36 or -36?

Please explain why. Thanx everyone.

Answer 1

it is always positive

think -1 X -1

which is one...a positive number

Answer 2

a positive number

remember the signs

(+) (+) = +

(+) (-) = -

(-) (+) = -

(-) (-) = +

if you have ( - 1)^2 ---> squared

is like having

(-1) (-1) ----> you are multiplying 2 "minus" signs

so you'll have a positive number

(-1)^2 = (-1)(-1) = +1

Answer 3

1 and 36 because

- x - = +

- x + = -

+ x + = +

Answer 4

a postive number, since a negative number x a negative number = a positive number.