Minus One Party
Weekly Problem 47 - 2013
What is the value of the given expression?
What is the value of the given expression?
Age
11 to 14
Challenge level
Problem
Calculate $[(-1) + (-1)^2 ]\div [(-1)-(-1)^2]$
If you liked this problem, here is an NRICH task which challenges you to use similar mathematical ideas.
Student Solutions
\begin{align}
(-1) + (-1)^2 &= -1 + 1 = 0\\
(-1)-(-1)^2 &= (-1) - 1 = -2
\end{align}
Therefore:
\begin{align}
[(-1) + (-1)^2 ]\div [(-1)-(-1)^2] = 0 \div (-2) = 0
\end{align}
(-1) + (-1)^2 &= -1 + 1 = 0\\
(-1)-(-1)^2 &= (-1) - 1 = -2
\end{align}
Therefore:
\begin{align}
[(-1) + (-1)^2 ]\div [(-1)-(-1)^2] = 0 \div (-2) = 0
\end{align}